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Manitowoc County Board enacts moratorium on data centers after public opposition
Summary
The Manitowoc County Board of Supervisors on April 28 enacted Ordinance 2026/2028-10 enacting a moratorium on data centers after public comment and two amendments: one adding a 'more than 1 petabyte' capability threshold and another striking '12' and replacing it with '18' in the ordinance text (the transcript does not specify the unit).
The Manitowoc County Board of Supervisors on April 28 enacted Ordinance 2026/2028-10, placing a moratorium on data centers in the county after extended public comment and board amendments.
The ordinance was introduced by Supervisor Zimmer and adopted as amended. During debate the board approved an amendment, moved by Supervisor Sortwell and seconded by Supervisor Neils, to add language specifying data centers "with the capability of managing more than 1 petabyte of data." That amendment passed 17–6; Supervisors Lillibridge, Heilman, Pope, Dallas, Hammel and Schwerma voted no. A second amendment, moved by Supervisor Behnke and seconded by Supervisor Hammel, struck the numeral "12" in the ordinance text and replaced it with "18;" that amendment passed 22–1 with Supervisor Shimulunas voting no. The transcript does not identify what unit (for example, months or another measure) the numerals refer to. After the amendments, Supervisor Zimmer moved to enact the ordinance as amended, seconded by Supervisor Schwerma; the motion carried unanimously.
The ordinance change will be recorded as Ordinance 2026/2028-10 amending Manitowoc County Code Chapter 8. The board took the action following a public comment period that opened at 6:14 p.m. and closed at 7:02 p.m., during which many residents from towns and the City of Manitowoc urged the board to limit or block data-center development in the county. Speakers who opposed a data center included Jim Theyerl (Town of Manitowoc), Bob Desjarlais (Town of Mishicot), Jaelee Messman (City of Manitowoc), Tammy O’Conner (Village of Whitelaw), Sam Strutz (City of Manitowoc), Elaine Olsezewski-Steckler (Town of Two Rivers), Susan Dirkmann (Town of Mishicot), Natalie Ford (City of Manitowoc), Katherine Leone (City of Manitowoc), Tom Sprang (Town of Two Creeks) and Pat Klein (City of Manitowoc). Tom Sheley (Two of Two Creeks) said he was not opposed to a data center, and Kay Lutze (Town of Mishicot) voiced support for the moratorium. Cameron Ross (Town of Two Rivers) urged more research.
During public comment Dean Anhalt (Town of Mishicot) also asked the county to re-review a five-year manure lease recently lifted and urged review of committee appointments to ensure proper designations; those items were raised as concerns but no formal action on them was recorded at this meeting.
The board’s adoption of the moratorium follows discussion in the Planning and Park Commission and will amend the county code; the transcript contains no timetable or implementation details beyond the amendment that replaced "12" with "18." The meeting adjourned at 7:52 p.m.
The County Clerk, Jessica Backus, filed the meeting minutes.
