Solovea Fuel owner urges quick fix for failing fuel building, asks city to consider donation

Josh, who the mayor identified as the owner and president of Solovea Fuel, described chronic structural and water‑intrusion problems at the company’s storage and retail facility and asked the city to consider alternatives so he can rebuild sooner than the several years staff said funding and design would require.

“Back in ’22, it started becoming a real problem... It just keeps getting delayed, delayed, delayed, and I just I need something to happen sooner than that,” Josh said. He explained skylights had been replaced and temporary patches applied, but the building now floods in heavy weather, a back wall detached from the foundation last winter and electrical upgrades are required before the tenant can expand operations.

City Manager Heidi summarized staff’s constraints: engineers and design work will take months and capital funding applications can take years, though CDBG is open to discussing options. Council members and staff discussed near‑term temporary solutions and the longer-term capital cost of replacement; the mayor said conceptual planning and a work session are needed to evaluate options including design‑funding requests, building packages and possible sale or donation proposals.

Why it matters: Solovea Fuel supplies the community’s fuel and its building’s structural failures pose a continuity risk for an essential service. The owner’s request — city donation or expedited funding — puts pressure on the council to balance capital constraints, procurement rules and short‑term continuity for residents.