The Ferguson City Council voted to table Resolution 2025-17, which would have authorized a construction contract for repairs to Firehouse Two, and directed the city manager to request two new bids: one for roof and exterior work and a second for interior repairs.
The resolution had proposed awarding work to Beacon Staffing LLC after the city received an insurance check and depreciation payment for wind and storm damage; the city manager said FEMA reimbursement may cover up to 75% of uninsured costs. Council members raised questions about a sizable gap between the insurance payout and the contractor bid, doubts about the provenance of one of two bids the city received, and whether the chosen bidder held required local licenses for waste transport.
Councilman Cassoff asked why the insurance payment did not fully cover the bid and said, "I don't feel like we should just be eating that cost." Councilman Palmer recommended splitting the procurement into separate exterior and interior contracts to attract more bidders. Councilman Franklin noted the apparent contractor was not licensed to transport waste in St. Louis County and urged staff to seek licensed firms.
Mayor Jones moved, and the council approved, a motion to table the resolution and direct the city manager to issue two requests for bids on a timetable the manager finds appropriate; the roll call recorded unanimous support to table and re-bid. City staff said they would seek a short turnaround and would contact local firms and the county to expand the bidder pool. The council discussed but did not approve awarding the contract that evening.
The insurance, bidding and potential FEMA reimbursement issues will be addressed in follow-up staff work; no contract award was executed at the meeting.