Oak Creek council approves $3.3M energy‑savings package for police building, including solar and insulation work

The Oak Creek Common Council on May 5 approved an energy savings performance contract with Upper 90 Energy LLC to address long‑standing building envelope and mechanical issues at the police department and to install solar on a replaced roof.

Staff explained the project bundles roof replacement (a ballast to a lay‑down roof that accommodates panels), HVAC and boiler replacements, insulation work and other envelope measures. Matt Sullivan, assistant city administrator and city engineer, told the council the combined program would secure federal grant funding toward the solar installation and reduce energy costs by tens of thousands of dollars per year. "With [the solar] we're able to achieve a grant back of almost $500,000 for the 1.2 million installation," Sullivan said.

Sullivan described an insulation approach that would avoid wholesale removal of the brick facade — a foam‑insulation method his team and maintenance staff vetted with masonry contractors, which he said provided a lower‑cost option to raise R‑value without extreme demolition. He estimated the overall project near $3.3 million and said funding will come from police impact fees, which staff emphasized are non‑general‑fund developer‑collected dollars dedicated to allowable police facility uses.

Council members and staff noted prior review by the Board of Public Works and asked questions about useful life of HVAC components, grant availability and project due diligence. A council member said the Board of Public Works held a ‘‘very robust discussion’’ and praised staff diligence.

By roll call the council adopted the contract resolution. Staff will proceed with project details and apply grant proceeds to reduce net city cost; the project will be tracked against impact fee constraints and routine reporting requirements.