County approves low bid to repaint jail pods, authorizes capital‑improvements funding

The Montcalm County Board of Commissioners voted Dec. 16 to accept a low bid from Great Lakes Painting to repaint metal surfaces inside the county jail’s newer pods and authorized payment from the county’s capital improvements fund.

Doug Gatson, who presented the request, said the pods’ metal railings, steps, door frames and bunks had been worn to bare metal and required stripping and repainting. The county solicited six bids and received five; the lowest responsive bid was from Great Lakes Painting of the Flint area at $13,640.97. Gatson told the board he confirmed the bidder understood the scope and could complete the work for that amount.

Commissioners discussed why local bidders submitted higher amounts; Gatson said local quotes were “astronomically higher” and that one local contractor had done a test panel with the county to assess cleaning and paint options. Gatson said the contractor uses a paint‑removal gel (rather than sandblasting) to strip old coatings and that work would proceed one pod at a time to accommodate housing and curing time. The contractor estimated it could begin shortly after Jan. 1.

Commissioner Peterson moved to accept the bid “not to exceed $13,640.97” and to charge the spending to the capital improvements line; the motion passed on a voice vote.

The county budgeted roughly $50,000 during the budget process for jail painting; Gatson said the low bid leaves room to seek prices for painting other pods and the older east end of the jail. Work on each pod will require moving inmates and allowing paint to cure for multiple days before reoccupying cells.