Donor’s $125,000 to light a REV field
By BOB SHRALUKA
WZBD.com
A ball diamond at the REV Sports Complex in Decatur should have lights by the time the 2024 summer season rolls around, courtesy of an anonymous donor.
Meanwhile, Decatur’s board of works and safety has approved funding some additional lighting.
City Operations Manager Jeremy Gilbert revealed at the board’s Tuesday meeting that the anonymous donor is ready to turn over $125,000 to light one of the six fields at the complex.
Working with Musco Lighting of Dublin, Ohio, Gilbert was able to reduce the cost of lighting a single field to fit the donor’s gift. It’s not the Cadillac of the plans, but it will be more than sufficient for the needs here, he said.
For an additional $14,000, to come from city coffers, an “adder” will be added; those lights, placed on the new poles, would shine in another direction and light the infield of an adjacent diamond, Gilbert explained. Then, in a later year, that field could be lighted at a smaller cost because of the “adder.”
The donor has a specific field in mind to have lighted, but hasn’t made its choice pubic.
The board gave its approval to allowing the use of the donated $125,000, and also agreed to having the “adder.” In addition, there will be another $6,000 to $8,000 in expenses for the city to cover, Gilbert said.
A couple of local contractors “would like to get involved,” he added.
Councilman Craig Coshow wasn’t convinced the city should add funds to the donation. “It’s a hard question to me,” he said.
Gilbert said it would take as long as 10 weeks to get the needed materials to light the field.
Of course, waiting too long surely would increase the cost. Prices have gone up three times in the last 60 days, Gilbert noted.
So board member Tyler Fullenkamp moved to approve use of the donor’s money and also to covering the “adder” costs; Coshow seconded.
In the mean time, the Decatur Baseball League is currently in a crowdfunding campaign to raise money for lights.
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