Verona council backs due diligence on proposed $36 million public works facility

The Verona Common Council on Monday heard a detailed conceptual plan for a new public works facility and moved to pursue due diligence and negotiations with the landowner for a preferred parcel in the city’s Business Park.

Consultant Josh Cook and his team told the council the recommended program would roughly double the current garage footprint. "We're proposing to take the facility from a 40,200-square-foot garage to an 85,000-square-foot garage," the presenter said, describing heated parking, a salt shed and separate repair bays designed to accommodate the city's growing fleet.

Why it matters: the plan addresses a roughly 30% growth in fleet size the consultant said the city has experienced and projects through 2035, and it would add capacity for larger vehicles, secure yard storage and space for about 51 crew members. The consultant recommended Site 6 in the Business Park as the preferred location, describing a conceptual layout that would occupy about 14.7 acres and separate public drop-off operations from fleet circulation.

Cost and schedule: at the concept level the team estimated approximately $35–36 million for construction, plus soft costs including contingencies and design fees. The consultant presented schematic-design costs of roughly $185,000 and estimated later design and bidding work of about $1.8 million; construction was projected at 14–16 months once bidding begins. The consultant emphasized these are planning-level estimates and recommended schematic design and geotechnical due diligence before committing to financing.

Council questions focused on operations, traffic separation, recycling and public drop-off logistics, procurement approach, and geotechnical risk. City Administrator Ollick told the council the property owner had indicated willingness to “work with the city on a potential purchase,” and that staff believed the city had time for careful due diligence rather than an immediate purchase.

Outcome and next steps: without a formal purchase vote, the council agreed to move forward with due diligence and to open discussions with the owner while the city advances schematic design work. City staff will report back on site investigations, geotechnical findings and financing implications before any final acquisition or construction commitment.

The consultant and staff said further design, stormwater engineering and permits would follow schematic work; the council also asked staff to coordinate the project timeline with municipal budgeting and the city's financial advisor.