The City of Two Rivers has created a new fund for a future shoreline project.
It’s part of a comprehensive shoreline planning project that encompasses over three miles of Lake Michigan shoreline extending from the Lighthouse Inn, just past the south city limits at the Chamber of Manitowoc County property.
The fund will track revenue from grant money the city has already received and provide support for consulting services.
City Manager Greg Buckley informed the city council that grant money under $30,000 would typically be deposited into a city fund.
He told the council, “But for clarity, given the size of the project, with grant funding from three sources, it would be appropriate to establish a separate budget.”
Councilwoman Bonnie Shimulunas asked why the new fund shows that over $405,000 in grant money would be going away.
Buckley says that’s how the fund will ultimately work, due to reimbursement.
“We’ve seen two months’ worth of billings,” he noted. “We are still waiting on the NEPA certification, the environmental review, which for a planning grant should be minimal but I understand there’s maybe a cultural resources review that still needs a letter before reimbursement can get processed.”
According to city documents, there is also concern that grant funding for the project may be impacted by federal budget cuts.
However, as of now, the funding remains intact.
The council held an information meeting on Wednesday (July 23rd) to talk about the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation doing a study on the shoreline.
The Cool City wants to identify ways to make the shoreline more resilient, enhance public access to the shoreline, and establish native planting.
Two Rivers is also interested in reducing maintenance and dredging the outer channel of the Two Rivers Harbor.
