Victor town officials spent much of Tuesday’s board meeting discussing potential expansion of the town’s dog park program, modifications to a large solar project and future use of the former school property now owned by the Urban Renewal Agency.
Town officials confirmed the URA has officially closed on the School Street property, clearing the way for future discussions about public events and long-term redevelopment opportunities. Board members said conversations are already underway about accommodating Explore Victor Fest activities there, including the potential return of helicopter landings during future festivals.
The meeting also featured a lengthy discussion about the town’s dog park at Dryer Road Park, where officials considered opening memberships to non-residents after permit renewals declined from earlier peak usage levels. Parks and Recreation Director Brian Schmitt told the board the park remains consistently used, typically averaging two to six dogs at a time, with heavier use during evenings and weekends. He said the town originally targeted roughly 150 memberships and previously exceeded 300 before leveling off closer to current participation numbers.
Several board members supported allowing a limited number of non-resident memberships, particularly for neighboring Farmington residents. The discussion centered around opening approximately 25 permits at a higher annual fee — potentially around $50 compared to the resident rate — while collecting more data through surveys and key fob entry records to better understand usage trends and why some residents chose not to renew memberships. Officials said they want to avoid overcrowding the facility while still maximizing use of what several members called one of the nicest dog parks in the region.
Town officials also received an update on modifications to the Norbut Solar Farm project on Main Street Fishers. Project representatives explained the company is seeking planning board approval to replace fixed-position solar panels with rotating tilt panels that track the sun. The change would reduce the overall number of solar panels from approximately 10,000 to 8,900 while maintaining project efficiency.
The modifications also lowered the estimated decommissioning cost for the project, though Norbut officials agreed to leave the town’s existing $325,000 decommissioning bond in place. Engineers told the board the current bond amount remains sufficient to cover future removal costs if the solar farm were ever abandoned or decommissioned.
Solar project representatives said the design changes were largely driven by evolving federal tax credit rules tied to renewable energy incentives. Attorneys for the project explained that federal guidance issued after passage of a congressional reconciliation bill created scoring advantages for tracker-style solar systems over fixed panels.
Board members also reflected on several recent community events, including the Victor Business Awards and Memorial Day parade. Councilwoman Alexis Ogra praised this year’s business awards ceremony as the best she had attended, citing positive feedback about the keynote speaker and streamlined format. Officials also said the revised Memorial Day parade route and ceremony location drew strong public feedback and attendance.
The board approved several routine resolutions during the meeting, including crack filling services through Suit-Kote, authorization to sign an agreement with CivicPlus, adoption of amendments to the town’s sign code following a recent public hearing, summer recreation agreements and the appointment of a seasonal highway laborer after rescinding a previous appointment.
Supervisor Jack Marin also provided an update on the long-running Modoc Springs property value protection agreement tied to the former Bad Water issue. Marin said one homeowner who previously signed onto the settlement program and later sold a home is expected to receive roughly $23,750 under the terms of the agreement.
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