Verona council approves Arch Solar bid for City Center and fire station; funds drawn from fire and contingency reserves

Two local sustainability advocates urged the Verona Common Council on Monday to move quickly to install rooftop solar at City Center and the Verona Fire Station, and the council voted to approve Arch Solar's quotes and fund the work from city reserves.

Kathy Johnson, a Verona resident and member of Sustain Verona, told the council that the projects are “vital for advancing sustainability in our community” and said “the urgency of this decision cannot be overstated.” Her remarks came during the public comment period before the council considered the bids.

Her husband, Jeff Johnson, a member of the Sustainability Task Force and Sustain Verona, told the council that the combined purchase now likely produces cost savings and preserves eligibility for potential federal or other incentives. “If you said, ‘OK, we don't want to do both, let's wait to do one of them for a year later,’ a year later from now, tariffs kick in, potentially inflation,” Johnson said, arguing that the current bid and incentives made doing both projects now the better financial choice.

Alder Christine Posey moved to approve the Arch Solar quotes to install panels on City Center and the Verona Fire Station, using $59,270 from the Fire Department fund balance and $10,433 from the contingency fund; Alder Lytle seconded the motion. Council members who spoke during debate said staff had verified a positive…