Committee confirms six appointments to business-improvement district boards

The Community Economic Development Committee confirmed six mayoral appointments to local business-improvement district (BID) boards on Oct. 24 during a hybrid meeting at Milwaukee City Hall.

The appointments — all approved by voice motion with no recorded objections — include Tanner Musgrove, Daryl Towers, Michael Wright, Heather Hunt, Ruth Gutowski and Peter Liapis. Each nominee spoke briefly to committee members about their background and interest in serving.

Committee Chairman Alderman Russell Stanford II said the appointments moved forward after members heard each candidate’s remarks. "This is an appointment for you for the BID...please let us know why you would like to serve," Stanford told nominees before the committee considered confirmation motions.

Nut graf: Business improvement districts are local, property-owner funded entities that operate programs such as marketing, public-space maintenance, events and small business supports. The committee’s confirmations add owners and local business representatives to BID boards that oversee those programs across the city.

Michael Wright, introduced as a current member of the Board of Zoning and Appeals, told the committee he was "born and raised in Milwaukee" and sought to give back through BID service. Daryl Towers, who identified himself as the owner of two Brady Street restaurants (Jackson American Pub and Wurst Bar), said he wants to "work closer with the businesses and the community to help create more events for the local area." Tanner Musgrove said he owns a business on Brady Street and "think[s] that the more that all the businesses and the neighborhoods all talking together, the better we can make the street." Heather Hunt described herself as a Third Ward resident who co-owns two restaurants and had served as a nonvoting participant with the district. Ruth Gutowski said she has been involved with BID projects and the Garden District; Peter Liapis discussed operating Zeb’s restaurant for three decades on Seventh and Morgan.

Committee members repeatedly noted the local experience nominees bring to BID work. The committee heard brief endorsements; the Brady Street BID executive director joined to support Daryl Towers, saying the three nominees for that district would be "strong voices for our community."

All confirmations were handled by voice vote. Several nominations required brief technical delays or reconsideration motions earlier in the meeting; for example, Tanner Musgrove’s initial appearance was postponed because of remote-audio trouble and later reconsidered and confirmed.

Ending: The confirmed members will join respective BID boards and participate in upcoming BID activities and operating-plan work. The committee record shows no objections to any of the confirmations.