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Board pauses on $370,000 racetrack lighting proposal; asks staff to solicit more bids and narrow scope
Summary
A Musco Lighting proposal to upgrade racetrack lighting and underground overhead electrical at the county fairgrounds came in at about $370,000—roughly $120,000 above the original $250,000 budget—prompting commissioners to seek more bids and consider trimming nonessential scope; the board agreed to revisit the item.
Justin, speaking for the fairgrounds advisory group, presented a Musco Lighting proposal to replace aging racetrack fixtures, pull overhead electrical underground and add lighting to additional fairgrounds areas. The proposal in the materials totaled about $370,000; the board's capital budget previously allocated roughly $250,000 for the work.
"The systems... are close to 100 years old," Justin said, arguing the system's age and a recent fuse fire at the fair demonstrated a safety and reliability problem that would justify replacement. Christie of Musco, on the call, said the proposal included more than fixture replacement—additional coverage, undergrounding overhead electrical, removal of old transformers and panels, and two new towers to light the front stretch—and that scope expansion was a major driver of cost.
Commissioners acknowledged that doing nothing was not an option but expressed sticker shock at the $370,000 price tag and asked staff to secure additional bids or pared-down proposals for comparison. One commissioner noted the county had set aside $900,000 in capital reserves for projects but questioned adding another large draw on reserves and urged that bids be structured "apple for apple" so proposals could be compared reliably.
Outcome: Rather than approve the Musco contract, commissioners asked staff to get more estimates, consider narrowing project components (for example, delaying nonessential additional lights), and revisit the matter at a future board meeting. Musco estimated a 4–6 week installation period once started and offered a 10-year parts and major-warranty package.
Why it matters: The fairgrounds host many events and races; failing lights pose safety and event-disruption risks, but the county must balance those needs against capital constraints and ensure competitive procurement or justified sole-source selection.
Next steps: Staff will solicit additional bids or revised proposals that narrow the scope, return pricing comparisons to the board and clarify timing to avoid construction during the racing season.
