Bluff council delays decision on community center roof, ceiling and swamp-cooler bids

At a March 11, 2025 special meeting, Bluff Town Council reviewed two sets of contractor estimates to repair a metal roof and ceiling openings and to remove two unused swamp coolers at the town community center. Council did not vote and agreed to carry the items to a later meeting while staff confirms contractor licensing and bonding and circulates the written bids to members.

The council heard the presentation from Malia Collins, who described visible light coming through a metal ceiling grate above the stage and said the opening was letting heat escape from the auditorium. Collins told the council she had obtained two different contractor estimates for sealing the HVAC grate and addressing water-damaged ceiling patches. For work to replace metal-roof fasteners and patch holes, Collins reported one estimate of about $13,500 and another estimate described in the materials as roughly $1,996.59. For removal and roof patching after taking off two out-of-service swamp coolers above the offices, Collins presented two close estimates: about $1,500 and about $1,460.

Council members asked for additional information before selecting a contractor. Members questioned the wide price differences between estimates and asked whether the bidders were licensed and bonded. The council asked staff to re-forward the full written quotes for review and to confirm contractor credentials; members said it would be acceptable to defer a final vote to the next meeting.

The council discussion also included technical notes supplied by contractors that Collins had relayed: both recommended removing old screws from the metal roof and replacing them with oversized, new screws and filling existing roof holes; they did not identify a single concentrated source for the reported ceiling leak but observed multiple old penetrations and fasteners as likely contributors. One council member expressed concern that removing the swamp coolers and merely caulking around the openings could create new leak points and asked for assurance that contractors would replace flashing and missing fascia where needed.

No formal motion to award a contract was made at the meeting. The council directed staff to circulate the bids and verify licensing and bonding; the roofing and swamp-cooler work will be placed on a future meeting agenda for a decision.

Details taken from the meeting transcript: Collins described the heat loss through the auditorium grate and the contractors' recommendations; council members asked about bonding and licensing and the reasons for price discrepancies and asked staff to provide the written bids before a vote.