Kinston City Council re-tables Historic Grainger Stadium issue for January meeting

The current 12-year-old scoreboard at Historic Grainger Stadium is in need of repair before next season begins. Rudy Coggins/Neuse News

The Kinston City Council threw the Down East Wood Ducks a curveball Monday evening.

The wait continues for either repairs on the current 12-year-old scoreboard at Historic Grainger Stadium or the purchase of a new state-of-the-art LED video display that includes a hefty pricetag of nearly $700,000.

By a 5-0 vote, the Council agreed to re-table the scoreboard issue again until its first meeting in January, 2020.

Tony Sears, city manager, gave the Council detailed documents - the lease agreement with the Texas Rangers, original scoreboard price quotes from Daktronics and A&C, and an itemized copy for replacement parts, labor and software upgrade.

"They have found a few replacement parts and suggested that we buy those to have on standby if we're going to continue with repair," Sears said. "The computer 'speaking' and functioning with the scoreboard has been another problem. We've got to get internet to it, which is not an issue. They think that's the first option to fix the interface between the scoreboard and the computer.

"However, if that doesn't fix it, they recommend to update the operating system. Hopefully, the programming can handle it."

Sears estimated the final cost between $30,000 and $90,000.

Council members Sammy Aiken and Kristal Suggs, and Mayor Pro-Tem Felicia Solomon each asked about replacement parts warranties. Sears did not have the information on hand, but said he would email Daktronics and have a reply within 24 hours.

Sears said if the replacement parts fail, Daktronics will come back to fix the problem. If another part of the scoreboard breaks down that has not been repaired, Daktronics is not accountable.

Councilmember Robbie Swinson asked if the scoreboard, as originally proposed, would be relocated from right field to left field due to glare from sunlight. Sears said that would not happen unless a new scoreboard is purchased. The old scoreboard's extraneous parts, including a cooling system that prevents it from getting overheated, would be difficult to move.

Grants from the Kinston-Lenoir Tourism Development Authority and Committee of 100 are on the table, but only if a new scoreboard is purchased. Sears said the money to pay for the replacement parts would come out of the Electric Fund and get paid back over a two-year period.

"There's also the possibility that if we spend eighty to ninety thousand dollars, it lasts two, three, ten more years," Suggs said. "The letter from Daktronics opens by saying this is what is suggested to get your system to one hundred percent functionality.

"Therefore, I believe that they have good faith this is a workable fix."

Suggs recommended a total system upgrade instead of repairing piece by piece, which could lead to failure.

Solomon said the contract with the Texas Rangers gives two options - purchase new or repair, and said buying a new scoreboard was not budgeted into the 2019-20 fiscal year. She also requested warranty information.

Grainger Stadium is set to play host to the annual Freedom Classic in mid-February, a single game between East Carolina and UNC Wilmington in early April and possibly the National Junior College Athletic Association Region X baseball tournament.