Elma officials are beaming over the prospect of installing solar panels in Town Hall.

Supervisor Michael Nolan, a longtime advocate of the project, said during a meeting Wednesday that the state will foot the bill for 75 percent of the project’s cost.

Nolan raised the proposal several months ago during a Town Board work session and received a lukewarm response.

The grant would offset the town’s $125,000 cost for solar panels, which are projected to save the town $125,000 in energy costs over the next 25 years.

Nolan said if all goes well, the library and senior center may be candidates for solar panels as well.

Nolan said he will seek three quotes for engineering studies on the project.

Councilman David Polak was equally enthusiastic.

“It’s the future,” he said. In other matters:

Nolan said money is available from the microenterprise loans program through the Erie County Department of Planning for people interested in starting a small business. Information is available through the town clerk’s office.

The Bowen Road repair work beneath the railroad underpass should be completed no later than Thanksgiving. The project dropped the road another 18 inches, allowing trucks to go through.

“Welcome to Elma” signs have been installed at Clinton and Transit, Bullis and Transit and Seneca and Transit, thanks to the efforts of Councilwoman Susan Glownia.

The board officially accepted a 10-year-old road, West Maple Court, which is 0.21 miles long, in an effort to make it easier for future boards and to correct an error the board made several years ago.

The road was never accepted by the town through a resolution in 1999 but had been filed with the county on Dec. 14, 1999, as a town road. Since there was no resolution on file, the town could not get highway funds from the state until this was done even though the town had maintained it and plowed it for years.

The board approved a business-use permit for Andrew Diestler to operate a retail store, All About Hobbies, at 7120 Seneca St.