A small, log cabin in Naval Artillery Depot (NAD) Park was the subject of a contentious hour-long discussion at a study session of the Bremerton City Council last Wednesday.

The nonprofit council explored two options: tear it down or lease the cabin to a group and allow them to pay for repairs.

The cabin, built in 1934, is in a state of disrepair. Several of the logs show significant signs of rot and the roof has water damage and is covered with moss and sword ferns.

In November, the NAD Guardhouse Cabin Foundation proposed to make restorations in exchange for use of the building for events and recreational activities. The Foundation would allow community groups to rent the cabin.

“When the public comes forward and they are ready to donate labor and time and risk their own reputations, which we all do when we step out like this and try to get something done, show leaderships — more power to ’em,” said Greg Wheeler, council president. “Personally, I look for ways to see if we can help them get that done.”

Tearing it down would cost the city $8,000-10,000, officials said, while restoring it would be quite a bit more expensive.

At least 11 times more expensive, actually. Engineering firm Art Anderson Associates filed a report with the city last March and estimated repair costs at $110,000-145,000.

Not included in the cost estimate is floor and foundation repair. A section of flooring has a slope but couldn’t be adequately observed without pulling up flooring, according to Art Anderson Associates engineers. The 80-year-old foundation doesn’t meet codes for anchorage, tie-downs, minimum reinforcements or seismic related requirements, the report said.

In the proposed lease, the foundation would need a certificate of occupancy and general commercial liability not less than $1 million, as well as builder’s risk insurance, insurance of worker’s compensation and professional liability.

It’s expected the city will approve a five-year lease with an option for an additional five, provided the foundation finishes repairs during the initial period, according to Roger Lubovich, city attorney.

Support for the project appeared unanimous, but talk about the specifics of the lease was contentious.

Councilman Dino Davis was particularly concerned by the lack of a detailed timeline in the foundation’s work plan.

“It’s way too open-ended to base a condition of a lease off of. There’s no timeline. There’s no specific timeline on the work product,” Davis said. “I want to see this project succeed, but I don’t see where we can enforce any of the conditions of the lease and therefore, do we even need that part of the lease?”

Davis also mentioned a passage in the Art Anderson report, which described the condition of the cabin as “not good.” The report went on to state that it’s impossible to predict how long the cabin will stand without repairs, but is “relatively stable” at the moment.

The city would still be liable if someone was hurt in the cabin due to building failure, even if lessees agreed to lease the building “as is,” according to Davis.

“But, I do know that the structure’s in failure now and it would not take much of an event to completely undermine it,” Davis said.

Roy Runyon, district six, viewed Davis’ stance as overcautious.

“Well, the statement ‘the structure’s in failure now,’ I don’t know that we have any civil engineers sitting around the table,” Runyon said. “I’d love to see the credentials of anybody making that statement.”

Runyon noted that the Art Anderson report didn’t condemn the cabin as “in failure.”

“Like any entrepreneurial effort, which it is, there is an element of financial risk,” Runyon said. “I think the element of risk to the city taxpayer is extremely minimal compared to some of the things that have been done.”

The Boy Scouts of America had occupied cabin since 1989 before terminating their lease in June 2014 and then moving to Silverdale.

The council is expected to approve an amended lease with the foundation at its meeting Dec. 17.