Plans to put in new lights at Bridgeport City Park moved forward Monday evening as City Council approved a near quarter of a million dollar contract with Musco Lighting to move ahead with the installation. However, at the request of Council member John Wilson the bid is contingent on whether the lights can be moved to meet any future configuration of the property.

 

Wilson said discussion recently of converting an undetermined amount of land being utilized at the facility into a soccer complex would require the lighting – as laid out in the bid – to be reconfigured. Currently, the project would allow for lighting on the left side of Bridgeport City Park where the football and soccer field is located. It would also provide lighting for the girls’ softball field.

 

“I think we need to do a study on all of our city’s green spaces by someone who doesn’t have any kids involved in any program (at the park) and perhaps someone without any connections to the city to see what the best use is of our facilities throughout (Bridgeport) Parks and Recreation,” said Wilson.

 

Wilson was backed by members of Council on doing the comprehensive study. The governing body also agreed that due to the usage of those fields in the fall that it would be best to move forward with construction as soon as possible to provide more opportunity until the study and a course of action could be charted.

 

“This is by no means a study of the operations of the Parks and Recreation. I think I can safely say that we all appreciate the work of (P&R Director) Don Burton, (Deputy Director) Joe Shuttleworth and the staff,” said Wilson. “We have perhaps the best parks and recreation department in the state. I believe we’re second to none.”

 

Prior to making the vote contingent on being able to reconfigure the lights at a later date, Wilson emphasized he wasn’t against the lights. Wilson and others also would like the land available at the park and at other recreational venues to meet the most pressing needs.

 

“Once we get the answer on this, we should move forward and get this in place (the lights) as soon as possible,” said Council member Dustin Vincent.

 

While the $249,803 contract for lighting was tentatively approved, Council also began breaking down the approval of various projects to be approved by carryover (fund balance) dollars. The money, which is funds over and above the income that was project in the recently completed fiscal year budget, totaled $1,087,599. There was also $205,010 in additional hotel/motel tax revenue that needs to be spent from previous years that has to be utilized by Parks and Recreation.

 

Although Council won’t formally approve the use of the money until the next meeting on July 28, they did massage many of the requests in a work session prior to Monday’s meeting. However, the biggest amount of money appears to be remaining in place – $450,000 for storm water projects.

 

Multiple projects were discussed from paying off the remainder of a vehicle escrow for the Bridgeport Community Development Office to having an additional $30,000 in salt and sand over and above what’s already budgeted to avoid the potential of not having those materials for another harsh winter, which nearly happened this past year. Several other items were scrapped or were looking to be modified; two of which involved Parks and Recreation. A request to remove the gravel warning track and the lava rocks behind the dugouts with new materials appear to be off the table.  Council members Diana Marra and Melissa Matheny were both proponents of leaving the items status quo.

 

All of the additional funds – and the finalized projects – will be doled out July 28. For well over a decade, Council has almost exclusively used the one-time dollars from the fund balance to cover the costs of capital projects and improvements.

 

Also Monday, Council recognized the Class AA state champion Bridgeport High School baseball team. Coach Robert Shields was joined by members of the team and his coaching staff in receiving a proclamation from Mayor Mario Blount. 

 

Editor's Note: Top photo is of Council member John Wilson, while City Manager Kim Haws, middle photo, and Council member Melissa Matheny are shown during Monday's work session.