Manitowoc County’s next executive is ready to get to work.
Tyler Martell spoke with Seehafernews.com before he’s officially sworn in next Tuesday as the county’s next leader, even though he ran unopposed and was expecting a full campaign.
Although he didn’t have an opponent, he tried to listen to the community before the election.
“I held a couple of listening sessions throughout the county, so that way people could get the chance to get to know me and other county supervisors,” he explained. “That was a lot of fun and we had good feedback to that.”
He says the feeling about becoming the next county executive has been setting in, but he’s also started to get in contact with county department heads.
Martell also wants to talk with county employees during his first few days before he starts on specific county business.
“Something that we are going to be talking about write away is the data center moratorium because I think the county board is going to vote on that at their April 28th meeting,” he recalled. “There’s the five-year manure agreements that have been in discussion, so I’ll make some final decisions on those.”
Martell will also have to work on the county’s 2027 budget not long into his first term.
He stated, “I’ve been advocating for, let kind of look through, find efficiencies, innovate, find ways that we can collaborate with surrounding governments to provide savings to the taxpayers and get the job done.”
Although he admits his first budget won’t accomplish everything, he explains he has ideas for opioid funding and for filling some vacant positions.
Martell also feels that his time as county board chairman will help him start as county executive.
Martell is following outgoing Manitowoc County Executive Bob Ziegelbauer, who decided not to run for another term after 20 years as the county’s leader.
Martell says he and Ziegelbauer had differences; things won’t drastically change.
“I’m going to take some of his good advice and some of the things that he’s done and accomplished, learn from them,” he remarked. “And I’m also going to be my own person in the executive’s office as well. So, there will be some changes. There’ll be a different approach to doing things. But I’m really appreciative to Bob for having a pretty, well-oiled machine here in the county.”
We also asked Martell about holding the line on property taxes.
“I would like to keep property taxes as low as possible,” he noted. “Especially considering we implemented that half percent sales tax. I think Bob and I have similar goals in keeping property taxes as low as possible.”
Martell will be officially sworn in at the Manitowoc County Courthouse next Tuesday (April 21st), along with seven new county board of supervisors.
We will also speak with Bob Ziegelbauer as he leaves office.
