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Manitowoc council approves ordinances, endorses Breece Malting and hears Progress Lakeshore report
Summary
The council adopted several routine ordinances and licenses, approved a TIF resolution for review by the joint review board, presented a proclamation honoring Breece Malting and heard an annual report from Progress Lakeshore highlighting entrepreneurship, broadband gaps and childcare initiatives.
The Manitowoc Common Council used its June agenda to clear a slate of committee reports, ordinances and licenses, adopt a tax-increment financing resolution for further review, and recognize local economic development efforts.
Proclamation and business remarks: The council proclaimed Manitowoc the “specialty malt capital of the world” in recognition of Breece Malting; Craig Breece, introduced as CEO and a fifth-generation family member, thanked the council and described investments the company has made in Manitowoc. “Today, Briess [sic/Breece] is a proud Wisconsin specialty malting company that provides all natural non-GMO products to ultimately beer, spirits, and food markets,” Craig Breece said, and he invited the council and public to a proclamation event at the Maritime Museum on June 25.
Progress Lakeshore annual report: Jamie Zastrow, executive director of Progress Lakeshore, summarized the organization’s 2023 and 2024 activity: the group served 95 entrepreneurs and supported 10 business starts in 2023, and had served 53 entrepreneurs through May 2024, with 35 new this year. Zastrow highlighted programs including Founders Connection, Circles of 7 mentorship, entrepreneur boot camps, an eight-week entrepreneur training program in partnership with the Small Business Development Center, and a feasibility study for a tech incubator intended to support future fundraising and programming. Zastrow also called out broadband as a priority, citing a county assessment that identified 2,650 unserved or underserved locations.
Ordinances, licenses and committee business: The council adopted a series of ordinances and routine committee recommendations across committees — public safety, public infrastructure, finance, personnel and the plan commission — including building and permitting code updates, an electrical permit update, temporary extension of premise for liquor sales for a downtown event, multiple two-year operator licenses, and authorizing travel for city staff to a transit conference. Document 15-76 (creation of Tax Incremental District No. 24 and its project plan) was adopted by the council and will proceed to the TIF Joint Review Board for final approval. Most items were adopted by unanimous or routine voice votes.
Public safety recognition and oaths: The council presented a unit citation recognizing Truck 1 (Lieutenant Scott Larson and firefighters Mark Lyman, Ben Reister and Will Peck) for a March rescue and also administered oaths to new fire department staff, including motor pump operator Tyler Zastrow.
Votes at a glance: Multiple committee recommendations, ordinances, and licenses listed on the agenda were adopted (motion outcomes were unanimous unless otherwise recorded); a summary of notable actions includes approval of water-main construction scenario (Document 15-77), adoption of code/permit ordinances (Documents 15-53, 15-54, 15-55, 15-93), and authorization of the TIF resolution (Document 15-76) to proceed to the joint review board.
The meeting adjourned after council business concluded; no further hearings or appeals were recorded at the meeting.
