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Ellsworth weighs costly options to replace aging ballfield lights
Summary
City staff presented bids showing large cost differences to replace ballfield poles and lights; council discussed 55-foot vs. 70-foot poles, warranty differences and possible cost-sharing with the school district while asking staff to test remaining poles to prioritize work.
Ellsworth City staff told the council Jan. 26 that ballfield light poles installed decades ago are deteriorating and that replacement will be expensive. Staff presented bids from Alliance Lighting (Beloit) and Musco Lighting (Iowa) showing wood-pole and steel-pole options with substantial price differences and differing warranties.
Maintenance staff reported that some poles show rot and woodpecker damage and that certain poles are only 55 feet tall while sports-lighting firms recommend 70-foot poles for adequate coverage. A quoted wood-pole option was reported in the transcript at roughly $388,000 and a steel option higher; Musco indicated a longer warranty (reported as 25 years) than another bidder (about 10 years).
Council members discussed testing the poles to identify which are structurally unsafe and would most urgently need replacement. Several council members suggested phased work or temporary measures (installing a 55-foot pole to mitigate immediate hazard) while exploring grant or cost-share options. The council also discussed whether the Unified School District should share replacement costs because the fields serve school programs.
City staff recommended obtaining pole-testing data to prioritize replacements and providing a cost-recovery plan before committing to full replacement. The council did not vote on a replacement contract at the meeting but asked staff to return with test results and cost options.
What happens next: Staff will look into structural testing and return bids and financing options; the council discussed phased replacement to spread costs over multiple years.
