Council approves paving contract, accounting-policy change and stewardship resolution; adopts Line Worker proclamation

The 2 Rivers City Council on Monday awarded a construction contract for Pierce Street and adjacent parking, approved a retroactive amendment to the city's revenue-recognition policy and voted to support reauthorization of the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program. The council also adopted a proclamation declaring April 18 Line Worker Appreciation Day.

The council voted to award the low bid for the Pierce Street paving and Neoshota Park parking work to Northeast Asphalt, Inc., and accepted a recommended contingency. Council members said the project stays within the 2025 streets capital budget and that the Neoshota Park parking portion is funded in part by a stewardship grant. The contract and contingency were presented as within available appropriation and expected to be completed before Memorial Day weekend.

The policy change approved by the council revises the city's revenue recognition rule so that revenues received within six days after fiscal year end may be recognized in the prior year; grant ("grama") revenues may be recognized if received within 180 days following year end. City staff said the change is intended to better match revenues and expenses for grants and reimbursements, and staff cited a pending roughly $200,000 county reimbursement that was expended in 2024 as an example.

Council members also approved a resolution urging the state to reauthorize the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program, which local advocates say has funded parks, trails and shoreline projects in the county. The resolution notes dozens of stewardship-funded projects in the Manitowoc/2 Rivers area and asks state officials and legislators to maintain the program's authorization and funding.

Separately, the council read and adopted a proclamation designating April 18 as Line Worker Appreciation Day to recognize the city electric utility's line crews and their role in storm response and public safety.

Votes at a glance

- Award contract: Pierce Street paving and Neoshota Park parking — Motion to award contract to Northeast Asphalt, Inc.; outcome: approved (voice/roll-call vote). Details: low bid of $150,298; with an estimated 15% contingency the project total shown as $172,842.07 in staff materials; project funded from the 2025 streets capital budget and park capital (including a stewardship grant). The contract was presented as within budget and the work will add roughly 50 net parking spaces near the beach and playground.

- Policy amendment: Revenue recognition policy (retroactive to 01/01/2024) — Motion to adopt amendment as recommended by the Personnel & Finance Committee; outcome: approved (roll-call vote). Staff said the change allows clean accounting treatment of grant and reimbursement receipts that arrive shortly after fiscal year end.

- Resolution: Support reauthorization of Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program — Motion to read and approve; outcome: approved (voice vote). Staff and speakers noted prior stewardship grants supporting local trail resurfacing, a seawall replacement and other park work.

- Proclamation: Line Worker Appreciation Day (April 18) — Motion to read and adopt proclamation; outcome: approved (roll-call vote).

Procedural notes: All items above were listed on the council's agenda and were presented by staff with supporting memos. Where a formal roll-call vote was requested staff called roll and council members responded. Detailed budget and bid documents were available in meeting materials.

Questions and next steps

City staff said the Pierce Street work and related parking improvements are part of the 2025 capital program and indicated anticipated completion before the Memorial Day weekend, with paving continuing into June for other sections. The revenue-recognition policy change was described as intended to simplify year-end audit reporting and to align grant receipts with the fiscal year in which related expenditures occurred. The stewardship resolution will be forwarded to the city's state legislators and the governor's office as requested in the resolution.

Ending: The council's next regular meeting was noted for April 21, when the city will hold a public hearing on proposed special assessments for an East Side street reconstruction project and consider related construction contracts.