Albany County board reviews $5.5M authorization for MVP Arena sound‑system electrical work

The Albany County board heard a presentation on a sound‑system upgrade at MVP Arena and a request to authorize the electrical contract for the work.

Nathan Sims, assistant general manager and director of operations for the MVP Arena, said the board was being asked to authorize a contract with Hewitt Young Electric "for the arena sound system upgrade project in the amount of not to exceed $5,495,000 $6,600." He told members the cost is included in the county's approved capital plan and that the work would be funded through county bonds. Sims said Delta Engineering provided the engineering design and that the electrical prime would purchase and install the equipment and perform the electrical work while separate general‑construction and mechanical primes handle other parts of the project.

Board members questioned whether the contract covered design or installation only, how alternates would be handled, and the size of the contingency. One member noted the contract includes a 10% contingency; Sims said the contingency accounts for unforeseen wiring or other work discovered during demolition and installation. The presentation noted the project was competitively bid and that Hewitt Young was the lowest reasonable bidder on the electrical portion.

No formal dollar vote tally on the record is readable in the transcript excerpt, though the board moved on to the next agenda item after discussion.