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County committees report courthouse upgrades, public-safety planning, transit gains and public-health trends
Summary
County committees reported ongoing courthouse renovations with approved contractor pay requests, a public-safety review that includes a body-camera RFP and planned active-shooter training, transit service gains including a delivered replacement bus, and public-health trends including overdose declines and continued respiratory illness activity.
Several Manitowoc County committee chairs and staff gave updates on capital projects, public-safety planning and service-level trends.
Public works: The Public Works Committee reported progress on the 2025 capital project list and on the courthouse window replacement and HVAC upgrade. Construction in Branch 1 courtroom and support offices was reported complete; work is focused on Branch 3 courtroom and support offices. The committee approved pay requests from Hamlin Construction (courthouse project), Elan Electric (law enforcement center fire alarm replacement), and Otis Elevator (heritage center elevator modernization). County IT staff also are upgrading AV and data systems in the courthouse as part of the construction schedule.
Public safety and courts: The Public Safety Committee reported on a body-worn-camera and storage request-for-proposals (RFP) with a submission deadline noted in committee as April 1; evaluation and review will follow. County judges (Branch 1 Judge Rohrer, Branch 2 Judge Dietz and Branch 4 Judge Lambert) briefed the committee on case flow, an increase in self-represented litigants (estimated about 40% of litigants in some dockets), and scheduling impacts related to courthouse construction. The committee noted plans for an active-shooter training for county employees, tentatively scheduled for August through the county emergency planning department, and discussed courthouse security including a single-point entry plan.
Transportation: The Transportation Coordinating Committee reported that a replacement bus awarded in 2023 has been delivered and is now in service. The committee also reported that one of two replacement buses requested in 2024 was awarded; expected delivery dates for that award were not specified. Ridership rose 22.5% in 2024 compared with 2023; the volunteer driver roster remains at 17 drivers.
Public health: The Board of Health presented its 2024 annual report summary: the health officer noted 2,422 conditions reported overall, 543 COVID tests (reporting format in transcript was fragmented), and that overdose deaths fell from 24 in 2022 to 20 in 2023 and 12 in 2024. The health department administered 301 doses of naloxone (Narcan). Seasonal respiratory illnesses remained notable: influenza-related hospitalizations and elevated RSV activity were reported.
The committees set next meeting dates (Public Works: April 9; Planning & Park Commission: March 31; Transportation: next scheduled meeting noted in report) and approved administrative items; no new ordinances or budget appropriations were adopted during these committee reports at the full board meeting.
