Council debates public works site; staff directed to pursue appraisals and options including land swap

The Verona Common Council spent an extended portion of Monday’s meeting reviewing the multi‑year planning process for a new Public Works facility and discussing whether the city should keep the lot it bought in 2018 on Range Trail West (the former “Purple Cow” property) or pursue an alternate site, including potential land-swap options in the Wayland/Liberty Business Park area.

City staff and consultants reviewed the project's timeline: the city purchased the property in 2018 for $2,700,000 after a multi‑party negotiation that reduced the acreage the city needed and allowed adjoining development. Since 2020 the city has worked with consultants on a conceptual building design; staff said design work has been paused at times for budgetary reasons but that a site-plan review could be completed within months if the council confirms the existing site.

Council members expressed competing priorities: several said the Wayland area offers better topography, multiple access points and room for future expansion; others emphasized the financial sunk costs and potential value of the Range Trail property if sold or repurposed for housing. The council did not vote to change the approved site but instead directed staff to commission appraisals and provide comparative cost estimates for purchase, annexation and road improvements for potential alternate properties.

History and options reviewed

- Site selection history:…