April 6, 2026 · 6:00 PM

City Council

Agenda Packet Watch Recording City Website ↗

Council approved a 0% WPPI loan for utility upgrades, two hotel facade grants paid from TIF districts, and a new sidewalk “grinding” pilot meant to stretch limited repair dollars. It also tightened rules on contractor construction signs and adopted a revised elected-official code of conduct (with a last-minute edit).

Key Decisions

Council approved a $496,676, 10-year, 0% interest loan from WPPI for utility projects (electric meters, substation security, and water plant generator/transfer switch work). Cheap financing is good, but council still didn’t get a clear, on-the-record answer about utility fund reserves or how this might feed into future rate increases.

Council hired Safe Step LLC for a $40,000 sidewalk safety pilot focused on grinding down trip hazards instead of replacing whole panels. The city says this could multiply how many hazards get fixed, but residents should watch the follow-up: the city fronts the money and then bills property owners through assessments, and staff also flagged that ordinance changes may be needed later to expand what the city can assess back.

Council approved two facade grants for local hotels—up to $17,536 for Cool City Motel doors/locks (TID 11) and up to $10,000 for Lighthouse Inn lighting/signage (TID 12). These are public subsidies aimed at visible private properties; the city framed them as tourism/economic wins, and both passed unanimously.

Public Input · 6 speakers

Kurt Andrews

As Room Tax Commission chair, gave a tourism/room-tax update: said a business survey found all respondents think tourism helps the local economy and 61.2% said they wouldn’t stay open without visitor revenue; reported room tax collections of about $1.25M from 2022–2025 with 30% going to the city general fund; urged residents to act as “Two Rivers ambassadors.”

Kay Coach

Thanked the council for the surprise recognition and spoke briefly about her family’s long history in Two Rivers.

Brian Konjerski

New Cool City Motel owner described ongoing rehab work (roof, windows, electrical/plumbing, rooms, asphalt, doors) and said the community has been welcoming; asked council to support the facade grant request.

Jim Van Lanen Jr.

Lighthouse Inn owner said the facade grant is necessary to move forward; outlined plans for new logo/signage and brighter exterior lighting, and noted ongoing costs like utilities and room tax.

Council communication (Jim, councilmember) relayed constituent feedback

Relayed a resident contact about tree removal in a park and asked whether stumps would be ground out.

Council communication (Bonnie, councilmember) relayed constituent feedback

Relayed a resident letter about sidewalks and asked for clearer explanation of what the city vs. private property owners pay under the sidewalk program.

Agenda Items

Public hearing on an ordinance to amend section 10-4-13-A1 of the city of Two Rivers municipal code entitled signs not requiring a permit to regulate the use of construction and alteration signs.

Passed 9-0

Council changed the rule for contractor construction signs: instead of allowing them up to 60 days per year, signs must come down within 30 days after the work is done or before occupancy, whichever comes first. The city framed it as clearer enforcement and better neighborhood appearance. No one spoke at the public hearing, and the ordinance passed unanimously.

Public Input: Three calls were made; no one spoke.

📄 See in official document: Page 1

sign ordinance Full history → construction sign regulations Full history →

Resolution authorizing borrowing of $496,676 from WPPI Energy at 0% interest for critical utility infrastructure projects.

Passed 9-0

Council approved a 0% WPPI loan to pay for electric meters, security upgrades, and generator/transfer switch repairs tied to water treatment operations. The pitch was straightforward: 0% money for critical infrastructure is hard to beat. Still, when asked about rate impacts and utility fund balances, staff did not provide specific numbers—something residents will care about if a rate case comes forward later.

📄 See in official document: Page 1

municipal borrowing Full history → utility infrastructure financing Full history → water filtration plant backup power and security upgrades Full history →

Application for a facade improvement assistance for Cool City Motel, 3009 Lincoln Avenue.

Passed 9-0

Council approved a facade grant up to $17,536 to help replace 28 exterior doors and locking systems at the Cool City Motel, with reimbursement coming from TID 11. The owners described a full rehab of a long-neglected property and the city tied the investment to tourism and room availability. This is a public subsidy for private improvements, so the key accountability question is whether the promised upgrades and improved property condition show up as advertised.

📄 See in official document: Page 1

Application for facade improvement assistance for the Lighthouse Inn, 1515 Memorial Drive.

Passed 9-0

Council approved a facade grant up to $10,000 for new exterior lighting and signage at the Lighthouse Inn, paid from TID 12. The owner said the project wouldn’t happen without the grant and described a new logo/sign package and brighter lighting around the building. The city emphasized the property’s visibility and said the TID has sufficient balance (staff cited over $300,000).

📄 See in official document: Page 1

tax increment financing Full history → facade grant Full history →

Competitive bid award for contract 1-2026 for water main improvements on State Highway 42, Lincoln Avenue in the base bid amount of $349,985 plus a 10% contingency in the total amount not to exceed $384,983.50.

Passed 9-0

Council awarded the Lincoln Avenue water main replacement contract to Vinton Construction for $349,985 (plus 10% contingency). Staff said this stretch is a frequent break area and noted the city has a large backlog of very old water mains—at current replacement pace, they described a roughly 190–200 year replacement timeline. That’s the real takeaway: the city is patching critical segments, but the long-term funding level still doesn’t match the scale of the system’s age.

📄 See in official document: Page 1

lincoln ave Full history → wisconsin dnr grant Full history → water main replacement Full history →

Ordinance to amend section 3-1-15 and section 1-2-1 of the municipal code of the city of Two Rivers regarding fire department third party ALA ELS lift assist fees.

Passed 9-0

Council adopted an ordinance to formalize billing certain facilities $250 for “lift assist” calls when there’s no injury, no medical need, and no transport—aimed at reducing taxpayer subsidy for routine staffing gaps at licensed care facilities. Staff cited more than 330 fall-related responses in 2025. The chief stressed this is not meant to discourage calling 911 for real emergencies.

📄 See in official document: Page 1

als lift assist billing Full history →

Ordinance to amend title 2, chapter 2-4 of the municipal code of the city of Two Rivers regulating municipal judges and title 1, chapter 1-2 of the municipal code regarding municipal court fees.

Passed 9-0

Council raised the city’s municipal court fee from $38 to $48, noting the fee hadn’t changed since 2013 and arguing more of the court’s operating cost should be covered by people found guilty rather than the general fund. A councilmember flagged that the agenda wording could mislead readers into thinking it applies to anyone who goes to court; the clarification on the record was that it applies when someone is found guilty.

📄 See in official document: Page 1

fee schedule Full history → municipal court fees Full history →

Code of conduct for City of Two Rivers elected officials.

Passed 9-0

Council adopted a shortened, revised code of conduct for elected officials, intended to be clearer and easier to use than the prior 14-page version. During the meeting, council removed part of a section that would have restricted device use during meetings for non-city business, arguing it could be unreasonable for members who may need to respond to work or emergencies. The policy is set to take effect after the next election/reorganization, not immediately.

📄 See in official document: Page 1

code of conduct Full history →

Professional services agreement with Safe Step LLC for sidewalk safety services in amount not to exceed $40,000.

Passed 9-0

Council approved a one-year pilot with Safe Step to identify and grind down sidewalk trip hazards (instead of replacing whole panels), with the city arguing it can fix far more spots per dollar. Staff said the city has about 95 miles of sidewalks and has been falling behind because streets and other major projects take priority. Residents should pay attention to the assessment piece: the city fronts the cost, then bills property owners over up to five years for most repairs (while tree-related sidewalk damage is treated as a city cost).

📄 See in official document: Page 1

sidewalk program Full history → sidewalk trip hazard repairs Full history →

Closed session pursuant to Wisconsin Statutes 19.85(1)(c) considering employment, promotion, compensation, or performance evaluation data of a management level employee over which the council has jurisdiction or exercises responsibility.

Passed 9-0

Council voted to go into closed session under the personnel exception in state open meetings law to discuss employment/promotion/compensation/performance evaluation information for a management-level employee. The public record did not identify the employee by name in open session, which is legal but leaves residents unable to judge the stakes or whether the closed session scope is being kept narrow.

📄 See in official document: Page 1

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