On the agenda: Manitowoc Minutes — data center (Jul 7)

MEETING OF THE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
MANITOWOC COUNTY, WISCONSIN
Tuesday, July 21st, 2026

6:00 P.M.

Pursuant to Wis. Stats. 59.04, the County Board of Supervisors of Manitowoc County,
Wisconsin convened in open session at the Heritage Center, in the City of Manitowoc, being the
21st day of July 2026, for the purpose of transacting business as a Board of Supervisors.
Chairman Phipps called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
Supervisor Shimulunas gave the invocation, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag by
the entire assemblage.
Roll call: 24 members were present: Lillibridge-1, Wolf-2, Metzger-3, Heilman-4, Pope-5,
McDonell-6, Schiesl-7, Hacker-8, Sitkiewitz-9, Zimmer-10, Dallas-11, Behnke-12, Bonde-14,
Hammel-15, Busse-16, Maresh-17, Riederer-18, Sortwell-19, Schwerma-20, Phipps-21,
Grambow-22, Klein-23, Weiss-24, and Shimulunas-25. Supervisor Neils-13 was excused.
PUBLIC COMMENT – OPPORTUNITY FOR CITIZENS TO PRESENT THEIR VIEWS
Chairman Phipps declared public comment open at 6:04 p.m.
Bob Desjarlais, Town of Mishicot, provided information regarding data centers.
No one else present wished to speak, subsequently Chairman Phipps closed public input at 6:08
p.m.
CONSENT AGENDA
Chairman Phipps called the consent agenda and questioned if any supervisor wished to withdraw
any items. Supervisor Sortwell requested Resolution 2026/2028-23 Supporting Sustainable State
Funding for Local Health Departments be placed under Board of Health report. Supervisor
Sortwell moved, seconded by Supervisor Zimmer to approve Consent Agenda Items A, B1a,
B2a, C2a, C2b, C3a, C4a, C5a, C5b, C5c, C5d, and C6a. Upon vote, the motion carried
unanimously.
A. Approve June 16, 2026 County Board Minutes.
B1a. Appoint Sandra Leschke to the Expo-Ice Center Board to fill a vacancy with a term ending
December 31, 2028.
B2a. Appoint Dean Anhalt to the Planning and Park Commission for a seven-year term ending
July 2033.
C2a. Resolution 2026/2028-24 Denying Claim (Daniel and Cheryl Reinke).
C2b. Resolution 2026/2028-25 Denying Claim (Julie Ruh).
C3a. Resolution 2026/2028-26 Approving Changes to the Rural Functional Classification
System in Manitowoc County.
C4a. Resolution 2026/2028-27 Amending Employee Policy Manual S. 4.10 (Classification of
Employees).

C5a. Ordinance 2026/2028-28 Amending Zoning Map (Michael & Margie Hoban).
C5b. Ordinance 2026/2028-29 Amending Zoning Map (Miller Family GFWO Zander LLC).
C5c. Ordinance 2026/2028-30 Amending Zoning Map (Otto Realty).
C5d. Ordinance 2026/2028-31 Amending Zoning Map (Nic & Christine Schoenberger).
C6a. Resolution 2026/2028-32 Approving Town of Newton Zoning Ordinance (Greg Zahn).
COMMITTEE REPORTS, RESOLUTIONS, ORDINANCES
Board of Health: Supervisor Metzger gave a report.
Supervisor Metzger moved, seconded by Supervisor Busse to adopt Resolution 2026/2028-23
Supporting Sustainable State Funding for Local Health Departments. Upon discussion and vote,
the motion carried with 21 ayes, 1 no, and 2 abstains. Supervisor Riederer voted no. Supervisors
Lillibridge and Sortwell abstained.
Expo-Ice Center Board: Supervisor Behnke gave a report.
Finance Committee: Supervisor Grambow gave a report.
Highway Committee: Supervisor Hammel gave a report.
Human Services Board: Supervisor Klein gave a report.
Land Conservation Committee: Supervisor Bonde gave a report.
Personnel Committee: Supervisor Maresh gave a report.
Supervisor Maresh moved, seconded by Supervisor Bonde to adopt Resolution 2026/2028-34
Creating 0.6 Full-time Equivalent Death Investigation Coordinator and 0.6 Full-time Equivalent
Assistant Death Investigator. Upon discussion and vote, the motion carried with 23 ayes and 1
no. Supervisor Shimulunas voted no.
Supervisor Maresh moved, seconded by Supervisor Hacker to adopt Resolution 2026/2028-33
Creating 1.0 Full-time Equivalent Benefit Specialist Position and Eliminating 1.0 Full-time
Equivalent Veteran Services Officer Position. Upon discussion and vote, the motion carried with
23 ayes and 1 no. Supervisor Sortwell voted no.
Public Safety Committee: Supervisor Dallas gave a report.
Public Works Committee: Supervisor Sitkiewitz gave a report.
ADJOURNMENT
Supervisor Hacker moved to adjourn, seconded by Supervisor Klein and the motion was adopted
by acclamation. The meeting adjourned at 7:10 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Jessica Backus, Manitowoc County Clerk