By Tim SchmidtRecord Managing EditorThe dark areas on the ballfields at Ruge Park should be much brighter when games are played next year.Wright City officials agreed to spend up to $5,000 to improve the lighting at the fields.A proposal from Musco Sports Lighting was approved by a 4-0 vote at the last board of aldermen meeting Sept. 24.The city will spend $3,700 to have the bulbs replaced on both fields and have the lenses and reflectors cleaned. In addition, Musco will handle disposing of the old bulbs. Additional funds have been allocated should other repairs need to be made.Parks Director Curt Kehoe noted this was the first time in the lighting system’s 23 years a bulb will be replaced.“I think (the bulbs) have hit their shelf life,” he said. “We have an issue on the third base pole. Home plate is in the dark. (On Sept. 23) we had to stop a game and end it in a tie because the lighting was insufficient.“Even Musco was shocked we had not replaced a bulb in 23 years and have not had an ounce of a problem with this system.”In other news• The city will spend approximately $2,570 to purchase computer software for a fixed assets program offered by Summit. The amount includes $2,000 for the software and an estimated $570 for professional services. The annual license fee and support agreement will cost the city an additional $400 per year. The purchase was passed by a 4-0 vote.• Officials reviewed a time line related to preparing the 2016 budget. Any projects elected officials or department heads want to be considered for next year need to be identified by Oct. 23. The budget’s first draft will be presented at the Nov. 12 board of aldermen meeting.Final approval will occur at one of the December board of aldermen meetings. The budget must be approved by Dec. 31.• New K-9 handler Tommy Tomlin will attend an eight-week program offered by the Boone County Sheriff’s Department. The training will cost the city $3,600.• The city received only one bid for the 2007 Ford Crown Victoria car. George Hoelscher submitted the bid for $700. The board voted 4-0 to award the bid.• Reliable Storage, located at No. 1 Hat Trick Lane, will be adding on to its property. The proposal was approved by a 4-0 vote. The planning and zoning commission had previously recommended approval at its previous meeting Sept. 22.• Economic Development Director/Treasurer Karen Girondo received approval to attend the Missouri Economic Development Council Fall Conference to be held Oct. 21-23 in Columbia.• The board agreed to pay $51,604 to MB Construction related to the ongoing waterline project on Westwoods Road. The total project cost is $195,566.• An ordinance amending the contract between the city and Kuhlmann Design Group for the sewer study project was unanimously approved. The contract had to be revised to include subcontractors who were hired to assist in the work.• A special event permit was issued for Our Hair Salon to hold a Wigs for Kids poker run fundraiser on Saturday, Oct. 17. Registration will start at 10 a.m. with participants departing at noon. The business is located at 275 N. Service Road• A vacation carryover request from Kehoe was unanimously approved.Wright City