Court authorizes contract extension to permit payment for completed lighting work, officials warn against repeat practice

Nueces County commissioners on Aug. 6 approved an amendment to extend the termination date of a lighting agreement with Musco Sports Lighting LLC so the county could pay an invoice for completed work at Lyondell Park. County staff said the lighting installation was complete and functioning, but the original contract had expired and staff had worked to secure an updated agreement to allow auditors and the payment system to process the invoice. County staff and the county attorneys office said the extension was needed to clear payment through the county's financial system; the court approved the amendment and authorized payment. Several commissioners emphasized that the extension was an exception and directed staff not to allow future work to begin on county property without a current contract. "Please don't let this happen again," one commissioner said, noting the liability of contractors working without an active agreement. County staff said the work had been delayed in part by contractor-side personnel changes but that the project was finished and county use of the lights had already begun. The amendment was presented as administrative, with staff describing it as a no-cost extension to align contract dates and allow the county to honor an outstanding invoice. The court approved the amendment unanimously. The county did not disclose the invoice amount during the public portion of the meeting but confirmed the work is finished and the contractor had completed installation prior to the contract extension request.