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City Council's finance committee gave a positive recommendation Tuesday for the city administration to hire Daktronics to create and install a scoreboard at Bowman Field.
Council is expected to review the $628,460 bid for the proposed contract on Thursday night.
The cost is about $60,000 more than several years ago when a state Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program grant was approved as part of Bowman Field upgrades, Councilman Adam Yoder said.
Part of the city obligation is to use the grant for the scoreboard, a video board that is light years ahead in technology to what was installed in 2007.
However, Councilwoman Liz Miele said the delay and extra costs involved are a cautionary note to the administration moving forward.
"Three years ago, it is likely the amount in the grant would have been sufficient to cover the cost," she said. "Whereas, we now find ourselves quite short," she said.
That is because over time, design and other costs increased.
The project could not proceed initially as envisioned due to bidding mistakes and a lapse in hiring a professionally certified engineer, she said.
Miele said moving ahead it would benefit the city to utilize the grants as they are specified for as quickly as possible, so there is enough money to complete the project as envisioned.
The grant was approved for use by the state Office of Budget. The remainder of the grant money was spent on improving stadium locker rooms and expanding the press box.
It will depend on whether the scoreboard can be built in time for it to be used for the Crosscutters' upcoming season between May 25 and Aug. 14, or if the team will have to wait for installation in the fall or another time.
Gabe Sinicropi, Crosscutters vice president for marketing and public relations, said the team is satisfied either way and most importantly wanted to see the scoreboard contract approved.
However, he noted, the team typically needs several weeks to prepare to build the show, learn the new system and integrate it into the press box for use.
It is hoped the existing structural foundation for the new video board, if approved Thursday, will be sufficient. The board that would be designed by Daktronics is lighter than the existing board, said Jon Sander, city engineer.
The city is crossing its fingers the foundation will be suitable. If not, Mayor Derek Slaughter said the cost to make it sturdier, if necessary, would be far less than building a new foundation.