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Contractor seeks payment after insurer denial for Greenwood Cemetery repairs; council discusses policy
Summary
Contractor Jason McGinn presented a bill for headstone and slab repairs at Greenwood Cemetery after insurers denied claims; council and city staff described prior practice, said plot owners are claimants, and asked staff to draft a written policy to avoid unpaid contractor bills.
Contractor Jason McGinn told the City of Cairo council he had completed work replacing or repairing headstones at Greenwood Cemetery and that insurers have denied reimbursement, leaving his firm unpaid.
"I'm just here to present a bill that was presented to an insurance company on behalf of the city for some work project that was completed," McGinn said, asking the city to consider covering the bill after attempts to file claims were unsuccessful.
City staff (speaker 8) and others described prior practice: when headstones were damaged the city would take a police report and recommend the plot owners file claims with the at‑fault driver’s insurer. Staff said the claimant legally belongs to the plot owner and that the city cannot seek reimbursement unless the owner authorizes the city to file on their behalf.
Staff referenced written statements from cemetery employees and a human resources memo documenting that employees advised the operator to file claims with vehicle insurance. Freddie Thomas (referenced in staff statements) had provided a signed statement saying the work should be charged to the responsible driver’s insurer.
A plot owner who identified themselves in the meeting said they had contact with State Farm and that coverage was reported to have lapsed on the accident date; speakers discussed the option of a joint claim combining amounts owed to the contractor and to plot owners to pursue reimbursement.
City legal counsel (speaker 13) advised that, legally, the injured/damaged party is the plot owner and therefore the claimant for insurance reimbursement; the city can adopt a written policy to document when the city will authorize or refuse to contract for repairs and how to pursue reimbursement.
McGinn said he would continue trying to file claims and return to the city if insurers denied payment. Councilmembers asked staff to draft a clear written policy to prevent similar disputes in the future and to establish whether and when the city will authorize work and seek reimbursement on behalf of plot owners.
