Council approves RFPs and loan application steps for rec‑center roof and solar project

Councilman Dickerson and Eric Burton of Mountain Biz Works presented a plan to replace the recreation center roof and to install a rooftop solar array. Dickerson summarized the figures: a solar estimate previously shown to the council was about $630,000, a revised roofing estimate from a local contractor was $360,000, and the combined project total on the handout was roughly $980,000.

Dickerson said the town could receive a direct‑pay federal tax credit if the system is placed in service by Dec. 31, 2026 — "the direct pay tax credit from the IRS, 40% of $250,000," he said, describing a roughly $252,000 incentive that would reduce financed amounts. Mountain Biz Works proposed a loan at 3.99% with interest‑only payments during construction; Dickerson presented illustrative monthly payments of about $5,119 during early months and an estimate of $3,770 after the incentive reduces the principal.

Council members asked for more detailed, installer‑level proposals and lifecycle assumptions: questions focused on inverter replacement costs (typically year 12–15), panel degradation assumptions, annual cleaning/monitoring and insurance, and whether the projected solar savings factored in future electricity contract changes. Eric Burton said production modeling is a projection but described it as a "pretty good estimate."

After clarifying that issuing RFPs would not obligate the town to pay or accept any single bid, the council voted to issue requests for proposals for the roof and solar work and to begin the loan application process so staff could evaluate concrete bids and loan terms at a later meeting.

Next steps agreed by the council include issuing RFPs, collecting at least three bids, returning with firm proposals that address lifecycle costs and warranties, and refining financing assumptions before any contract award.