Verona council notifies tenant it will not renew former library lease, directs staff to negotiate final date

VERONA, Wis. — The Verona Common Council voted on Monday, Jan. 27, 2025, to notify the tenant of the former Verona Public Library at 130 Franklin Street that the city will not renew the lease and directed staff to begin negotiations on a final date for the tenant’s departure.

The motion, made by Alder Tucker Long and seconded by Alder Helmke, passed 6–1; Alder Hoax cast the lone no vote. Council action sets in motion discussions with Redeemer Bridal Bible Fellowship, which holds the current lease that runs Oct. 1, 2024, through Sept. 30, 2025, at $5,500 per month.

Why it matters: City staff and department heads told the council the building could serve as short-term storage for library records and as a community programming site for recreation and the senior center. Councilors said reclaiming the building would let the city use an existing, centrally located facility rather than seek a new community center or other space.

Presentations and council discussion

Mr. Ollick, acting city clerk, told the council the lease “was renewed for 12 months commencing on October 1, 2024 and ending on September 30, 2025 at a rate of $5,500 per month.” Recreation Director Casey Dudley, Library staff member Stacy, and senior center leadership outlined potential city uses if the lease is not renewed.

“We've never had our own space to offer programming,” Recreation Director Casey Dudley said, noting the department relies on school gyms, the senior center and other borrowed space that can be unavailable on short notice. Dudley described potential after-school programming, preschool classes, community room rentals and expanded adult fitness offerings as uses that could be staged at the former library.

“One of the big problems we have at the library is storage,” Stacy said, describing a cramped storage room that also serves as the tornado shelter and holds Verona Area Historical Society materials. Stacy and Dudley said the building could free space in the current library and provide collaborative programming space.

City staff also described building needs and constraints. Dudley listed likely improvements and costs to make the facility suitable for city programming, including replacing worn carpet, addressing elevator reliability for basement access, adding dehumidification or HVAC work for archival storage, replacing or rekeying exterior door locks, and adding security cameras. He estimated routine housekeeping could cost roughly $1,000 per month. Dudley said some furnace units are decades old and would likely need longer-term replacement.

Financial and logistical details cited in the meeting included a current building account balance of about $25,850 after a recent $30,000 payment toward debt tied to the facility, and utilities of roughly $1,000 per month. The staff presentation noted the city must give at least six months’ written notice to terminate the existing lease, which would make a termination notice issued now effective Sept. 30, 2025 unless the parties agree otherwise.

Council deliberations and vote

A number of councilors expressed support for reclaiming and repurposing the building to meet growing demand for recreational and senior programming and for library storage. Some members urged caution and requested cost estimates and a clearer timeline before committing large renovation funds. Alder Lydell, for example, said she preferred a facilities-wide plan and alternatives analysis before major spending. Alder Helmke and others urged staff to obtain quotes so budgeting could proceed.

A motion by Alder Tucker Long to notify the tenant that the city would not renew the lease and to direct staff to begin negotiations on timing passed 6–1. The council did not set a final renovation timeline; members noted significant renovation spending would likely be addressed in the 2026 budget process and that limited, minimally invasive use of parts of the building could begin sooner if safe and feasible.

What happens next

Council members and staff said they expect staff to meet with the tenant about realistic move-out timing and to return to the council with information, including contractor cost estimates, before the city makes large investments. “The renewal notice by March 30th is something you guys need to decide,” Dudley said during the presentation, urging the council to settle whether to issue formal notice.

Until the council directs a specific renovation budget, staff said modest uses of the building could begin with minimal investment (furniture, basic cleaning) while larger ADA, elevator or mechanical work awaits formal budgeting and contractor quotes.

Speakers

- Alder Tucker Long, Verona Common Council - Alder Helmke, Verona Common Council - Alder Hoax, Verona Common Council - Casey Dudley, Recreation Director (City of Verona) - Stacy (Library staff member, Verona Public Library) - Mr. Ollick, acting city clerk (City of Verona) - Simon (building/facilities staff) - Pastor Dwight Wise (Redeemer Bridal Bible Fellowship; mentioned in a public comment praising his community work)

Authorities

- contract: Commercial lease for 130 Franklin Street (referenced by Mr. Ollick)

Actions

- motion: "Notify the tenants that we are not renewing their lease; direct staff to begin negotiations."; mover: "Alder Tucker Long"; second: "Alder Helmke"; tally: {"yes":6,"no":1}; outcome: "approved"; notes: "Council directed staff to negotiate move-out timing; staff to return with cost estimates and timing. Tenant is Redeemer Bridal Bible Fellowship; current lease runs Oct. 1, 2024–Sept. 30, 2025 at $5,500/month; termination requires at least six months' written notice."

Clarifying_details

[{"category":"lease_terms","detail":"Current lease runs Oct. 1, 2024–Sept. 30, 2025","value":"not specified","source_speaker":"Mr. Ollick"},{"category":"monthly_rent","detail":"Lease rate","value":5500,"units":"USD","approximate":false,"source_speaker":"Mr. Ollick"},{"category":"debt_balance","detail":"Remaining building account balance after recent payment","value":25850,"units":"USD","approximate":true,"source_speaker":"Mr. Ollick"},{"category":"utilities","detail":"Estimated monthly utilities","value":1000,"units":"USD","approximate":true,"source_speaker":"Mr. Ollick"},{"category":"cleaning_estimate","detail":"Estimated monthly housekeeping for the facility","value":1000,"units":"USD","approximate":true,"source_speaker":"Casey Dudley"},{"category":"archives_storage_requirement","detail":"Historical society materials require climate-controlled archival storage; basement currently uses portable dehumidifier to drain","value":"not specified","source_speaker":"Stacy"},{"category":"elevator_condition","detail":"Elevator has passed inspection but staff expressed concern about long-term reliability and possible upgrades for basement programming","value":"not specified","source_speaker":"Casey Dudley"}]

Proper_names

[{"name":"Redeemer Bridal Bible Fellowship","type":"other"},{"name":"Verona Public Library","type":"agency"},{"name":"Verona Area Historical Society","type":"organization"},{"name":"Casey Dudley","type":"person"},{"name":"AECO M","type":"organization"}]

Community_relevance

{ "geographies":["City of Verona"], "funding_sources":[], "impact_groups":["children","seniors","library users"] }

provenance":{"transcript_segments":[{"block_id":"block_1151.06","local_start":0,"local_end":350,"evidence_excerpt":"Thank you, mayor. The city owned building at 130 Franklin Street, also known as the former library, is leased to Redeemer Bridal Bible Fellowship. The lease was renewed for 12 months commencing on October 1, 2024 and ending on September 30, 2025 at a rate of $5,500 per month. To the extent the city wishes to terminate the lease, the city must provide the tenant at least 6 months written notice of termination. If the city exercise this clause, the termination would become effective September 30, 2025.","tc_start":"00:19:11","tc_end":"00:19:56","reason_code":"topicintro"},{"block_id":"block_4316.79","local_start":0,"local_end":300,"evidence_excerpt":"Who\'s in favor of notifying the tenant that the lease will, be terminated and directing staff to negotiate the last day for the tenant signify by saying Hi... Opposed now no and that motion passes 6 to 1 with other hoax voting No.","tc_start":"01:11:27","tc_end":"01:11:56","reason_code":"topicfinish"}]}

topics:[{"name":"community_center","justification":"Discussion centered on converting the former library at 130 Franklin St. into a city-run community center for recreation, senior programming and library storage.","scoring":{"topic_relevance":0.95,"depth_score":0.88,"opinionatedness":0.05,"controversy":0.60,"civic_salience":0.82,"impactfulness":0.78,"geo_relevance":1.00}}]