By Bill Short
The Millington Board of Mayor and Aldermen has unanimously adopted a resolution to award a bid submitted to install lighting at the Millington South Park ballfields.
Board members took the action during their Nov. 8 regular monthly meeting on a motion offered by Alderman Bethany Huffman and seconded by Alderman Don Lowry.
City Finance Director Randy Hendon said bids were received from three companies.
The low bidder was Advance Electric Co. Inc. for $375,000.
The resolution authorizes either Mayor Terry Jones or City Manager Ed Haley to sign a contract and any documents related to the bid award.
At its Oct. 11 meeting, the board unanimously accepted $250,000 in Community Development Block Grant funds to install the lighting.
A resolution to accept the grant stated that Shelby County had applied for and received CDBG funds from the federal government under Title 1 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974.
The county wanted to engage Millington to assist it in using those funds.
The resolution authorized Jones to sign and submit all documents necessary to receive the grant funds.
At the Nov. 8 meeting, Hendon said the city will withdraw money from its Capital Improvements Fund to make up the difference between the grant and bid amounts.
He has noted that the lights on the South fields will be LED, which he thinks will do “a great thing” for that park.
“As a ballplayer myself,” he added, “that is a whole different ballgame.”
Huffman expressed appreciation to Haley for securing the grant.
“That also means we can have lighting for other events and community activities that we’re going to be having in that area,” she concluded. “That’s a great plus for the community.”
