The Festus City Council has agreed to buy a new wireless scoreboard for $12,985.49 for the West City Park baseball field.
Festus parks superintendent Larry Crites said he hopes to have the new scoreboard in place at Lucas Field by the start of the Festus High School baseball season in the spring.
“I just talked to (Nevco) and they can ship it here in four to five weeks after they receive our paperwork,” he said Jan. 9. “If the weather cooperates, yes, we can install it before the high school baseball season.”
He said the Festus Tourism Commission appropriated $15,000 to buy the new scoreboard with tourism tax money it receives.
He told the council that city staff will install the scoreboard, but it will cost an estimated $4,600 for materials and equipment needed to install it.
He said it would cost a lot more to have a company install the scoreboard.
Crites said the Festus High School and Festus American Legion baseball teams use Lucas Field, and the school baseball team boosters and American Legion team members have agreed to pay for any scoreboard-related costs beyond the $15,000 the Tourism Commission has set aside.
Crites estimated that the old scoreboard at Lucas Field was installed in 1993. It still works and came from Nevco.
“It’s just very outdated and it’s not wireless,” he said. “It’s not as appealing as the new version.”
Council members voted 7-0 Jan. 8 to buy the scoreboard from Nevco of Greenville, Ill., which submitted the lower of two scoreboard bids.
Daktronics of Earth City submitted a slightly higher bid of $13,000.
Staff members told Mayor Mike Cage and the council members that it appeared that both companies’ scoreboards would suit the needs of those who use Lucas Field. In addition, the scoreboards are roughly the same size.
However, Crites said he prefers the Nevco scoreboard.
“I just want a board out there,” he said. “If it’s my choice, I’d go with Nevco.”
Ward 4 Councilman Sam Richards was absent from the meeting.