Council awards repair contract for town rental after insurance payout; bids ranged from $400 to about $7,590

The Cleveland Town Council on Jan. 9 accepted a bid from Cass Inc. to repair interior and roof leaks at a town-owned rental property, approving the contract by voice vote.

Staff opened three bids for work that included replacing damaged sheetrock, patching areas where a removed light left holes, addressing roof leak points and applying sealant to roofing seams. Cass Inc.’s written bid focused on targeted drywall repair, fixing the light opening, and repairing a single leak area; the bid amount presented to the council was $3,974 and included a two-year guarantee for the leak repair. A second bidder, identified as Cameron Bennett (operating outside town limits), submitted a larger bid that included more extensive replacement and a contingency; the figures cited in discussion were approximately $6,290 without contingencies and up to roughly $7,590 with contingencies. A third offer from “Ken’s Drywall Service” proposed interior patching and minor insulation work for about $400, but did not include a roof repair nor a stated warranty.

Town staff said the property’s insurer estimated the full replacement/repair cost at $7,944.05, less recoverable depreciation of $1,300, yielding an actual cash value of $6,639 and, after the town’s $1,000 deductible, an insurance check of $5,639.50. Council members discussed using the insurance proceeds to pay the contractor and to buy extra paint so patched areas can be blended or, if desired, the entire ceiling repainted to improve visual matching.

After discussion of warranty length and scope, contractor reputations and the need to cover both interior repairs and roof-seam sealing, a council member moved to accept the Cass Inc. bid for the rental repairs; another member seconded the motion and the council voted in favor. Staff said they will work out contract details and that the town will combine the awarded scope with the insurance check to cover work and materials.