Light Squabble Settled in Time for Start of Softball, Soccer Seasons

Largo city leaders settled a light legal dispute Tuesday while awarding contracts to replace lighting systems at Southwest Recreation Complex and the Belcher Soccer Complex.

Commissioners unanimously agreed to use Riley Electric for the $105,000 project at Southwest Recreation Complex and voted 5-1, with Commissioner Curtis Holmes in opposition, to awarding Himes Electric a $390,000 contrat to replace lights at Belcher Soccer Complex.

“Obviously you were playing Solomon on this one,” Holmes said, complimenting Alan Zimmet, city attorney on mediating the contracts. “It would probably cost more in litigation than this job is even worth.”

The contracts to replace lights at the facilities were first presented to commissioners March 19. That is when the issue of the warranties was brought up. While both proposals specified the duration of the warranty of the Musco and Hubbell light systems, neither offered details about specific coverage.

At the same time, Himes filed a bid protest for the proposed Belcher Soccer Complex project that was awarded to Riley Electric stating the company did not meet the state requirements.

Related coverage:

• Light Squabble Over Southwest Recreation Contract

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