The controversial planned Tax Incremental Financing District-22 for Manitowoc’s southwest corridor will NOT be in place moving forward. 4th district alderman and City Finance Committee chairman Jim Brey tells Seehafer News the action was taken during the council session last night.
The Meijer Company of Grand Rapids, Michigan purchased acreage along South Rapids Road, near Calumet Avenue from the County 2 years ago to put up a new retail store. But, County Executive Bob Ziegelbauer has been adamant that the property sold to Meijer ‘not’ be part of a TIF, based on a promise he says was made by city & county leaders. Brey however, maintains he never made such a promise but added, “regardless, we’ll move forward.” The chairman of the County Board says, “there’s a lot of ambiguity with what is perceived as the retailers’ responsibility with that piece of land.”
The council vote to defeat TIF district 22 was 8-to-nothing with aldermen Mike Howe & Lee Kummer not in attendance. Bottom line, says Brey, “I want Meijer to come here, but we need to know exactly what the city & county are expecting of them.”
