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Super 8 owner urges Logansport to help recover nearly $47,000 for rooms provided to TBL players
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Summary
An attorney for Super 8 owner Kumar Patel told the Logansport finance committee the hotel provided 10 rooms to the local TBL basketball team on a mayoral request and has not been paid; city officials said they have no record of a city contract and recommended legal counsel handle the dispute.
An attorney for the owner of the Super 8 by Wyndham in Logansport told the city’s finance committee that the hotel is owed $46,564.70 for 10 rooms provided to players of the Logansport Iron Horses and asked the council to consider helping recover the money.
"He lent out those 10 rooms, which are approximately 25% of his hotel," attorney T.J. Rethlake said, describing the owner’s reliance on assurances from Mayor Martin and others. "He went ahead and allowed them to have those rooms." Rethlake said the rooms were provided starting in late February and that invoice copies were left at the mayor’s office.
The city’s representative in the meeting said the city does not have a contract with Super 8 for the rooms and that, from the city’s perspective, it is not clear the city is legally liable. A member of the mayor’s office said they had seen the demand letter and expressed disappointment that the mayor was not present to discuss it.
Nut graf: The dispute centers on whether hotel rooms supplied after a mayoral request created a city obligation. The hotel’s attorney said Patel relied on verbal assurances and texts and that invoices were not paid; city officials said they were not aware of a formal city agreement and advised the parties’ attorneys to confer.
City council members pressed for clarity. Deputy-mayor‑office representatives said they could not confirm who from the mayor’s office had spoken or visited the hotel. "I don't know who could've met Mr. Patel," the mayor’s office representative said during the meeting. Council members said the matter should be resolved with the city attorney and that the mayor should be asked to meet with council and the hotel owner.
Rethlake said the unpaid invoice total—excluding attorney fees—was $46,564.70 for lodging from Feb. 25 through May 8. He described the rooms as heavily discounted from market rate and said Patel allowed the rooms because the mayor approached him personally.
City officials described multiple complicating factors: the Transcontinental Basketball League (TBL) has not responded to invoice requests, city staff did not find a formal procurement contract or purchase order, and council said the proper step was for the city attorney to review the demand letter and advise next steps. The finance committee agreed to ask the city attorney to meet with the hotel and attorney; no payment decision or vote was taken at the meeting.
Ending: Council members asked that future meetings about the dispute also invite a TBL representative and the mayor so all involved parties can discuss payment and responsibilities; the city attorney was expected to follow up.
