There is an ongoing dispute between the city of Manitowoc and Manitowoc County over the property that will eventually include the siting of a new Meijer Store. The City has proposed a Tax Incremental Financing District (#22) for a larger sector of land on Manitowoc’s southwest side. But, County Executive Bob Ziegelabauer stated in a letter, late last month, that he…along with county board Chairman Jim Brey, Mayor Justin Nickels, Common Council President Eric Sitkiewitz promised that the property would not be included in a TIF district, and asked the public for their support for the sale of a portion of county expo land. Seehafer News contacted council president Sitkiewitz about the dispute over the proposed TIF-district 22.
Sitkiewitz said he doesn’t believe adding the TIF district would jeopardize Meijer locating here. Ziegelbauer believes such a move would quote, “squander the money Meijer is willing to pay, and instead spend taxpayer funds on the street construction. He continues, “It’s a foolish waste of taxpayers’ money, but they are hoping to use it as a clever way to fund other projects nearby, without having to share it with the rest of the city, county and school district.” The city council finance committee was scheduled to take up creation of the new district last night and possibly forward-it to the full council at its’ September 17th meeting.
