April 6, 2026 · 6:00 PM
City Council
Two Rivers council approved a 3% raise for the city manager on a split vote after a closed session, and also signed off on new fees and spending tied to sidewalks, utilities, and downtown/tourism-facing projects. The meeting also included a low-drama public hearing to tighten rules on contractor signs, with no one speaking.
Key Decisions
Council voted 6-3 to give the city manager a 3% raise after meeting behind closed doors. Residents get no detail on what was discussed in closed session beyond the legal reason cited, so the split vote is one of the only public signals that not everyone was comfortable with the decision or timing.
Council approved a $40,000 sidewalk “trip hazard” pilot contract using saw-cutting instead of full replacement. This could stretch limited dollars further, but councilmembers themselves flagged that residents still need clearer answers on what the new sidewalk approach will cost private property owners.
Council approved a $496,676, 0% interest WPPI loan for utility infrastructure (meters, security upgrades, generator repairs at the water filtration plant). It’s real money, but the terms are unusually favorable—worth watching how the project list and follow-through are tracked.
Public Input
No public comments or communications recorded for this meeting.
Agenda Items
26-047 Public Hearing on an Ordinance to Amend Section 10-4-13-A(1) 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 tightened the rules for contractor construction signs. Instead of allowing contractor signs for up to 60 days annually, the new rule requires removal within 30 days after construction is done or before occupancy, whichever comes first. It’s a small quality-of-life enforcement change, and the lack of public comment suggests either broad agreement or that most residents didn’t see it coming.
Public Input: Three calls were made; no one spoke.
Roll call vote 9 yes
Mark Bittner
yes
Doug Brandt
yes
Shannon Derby
yes
Darla LeClair
yes
Bill LeClair
yes
Tim Petri
yes
Bonnie Shimulunas
yes
Scott Stechmesser
yes
Adam Wachowski
yes
26-051 Appointment of Tracey Koach to a three-year term on the Plan Commission beginning April 30, 2026 and expiring May 1, 2029
Passed
Council appointed Tracey Koach to the Plan Commission for a three-year term. Based on the meeting record, she is filling the seat previously held by Kay Koach, who was honored earlier in the meeting for decades of service—useful context for residents tracking who shapes land-use and development recommendations.
26-052 Resolution Authorizing Borrowing $496,676 from WPPI! Energy at 0% Interest for Critical Utility Infrastructure Projects
Passed 9-0
Council approved borrowing $496,676 from WPPI Energy at 0% interest for utility projects including electric meters, security upgrades, and generator repairs at the water filtration plant. The city framed this as reliability and security work for essential services, and the 0% rate makes it hard to argue with financially. The key accountability question is whether the city later reports what was actually purchased and whether the work reduced outages, security risks, or emergency vulnerabilities.
Roll call vote 9 yes
Mark Bittner
yes
Doug Brandt
yes
Shannon Derby
yes
Darla LeClair
yes
Bill LeClair
yes
Tim Petri
yes
Bonnie Shimulunas
yes
Scott Stechmesser
yes
Adam Wachowski
yes
26-053 Official Newspaper Declaration and Bid
Passed
Council designated the Herald Times Reporter as the city’s official newspaper for legal notices and council proceedings, based on a rate schedule received March 23, 2026. This matters because it determines where residents must look for required public notices, even if many people now rely on social media or the city website.
26-042 Application for Facade Improvement Assistance by Cool City Motel, 3009 Lincoln Avenue
Passed 9-0
Council approved a facade improvement grant up to $17,536 for the Cool City Motel to replace 28 exterior doors and locking systems, reimbursed through TID #11. This is public support aimed at improving a private property’s appearance and function, justified as readiness for the 2026 season. Residents who are skeptical of TID spending will likely want clearer reporting on what outcomes the city expects (safety, occupancy, neighborhood impact) and how often these grants go to tourism-facing properties.
Roll call vote 9 yes
Mark Bittner
yes
Doug Brandt
yes
Shannon Derby
yes
Darla LeClair
yes
Bill LeClair
yes
Tim Petri
yes
Bonnie Shimulunas
yes
Scott Stechmesser
yes
Adam Wachowski
yes
26-054 Application for Facade Improvement Assistance by Lighthouse Inn, 1515 Memorial Drive
Passed 9-0
Council approved a facade improvement grant up to $10,000 for the Lighthouse Inn for exterior lighting and signage, reimbursed through TID #12. Like the motel grant, this is a public subsidy for a private business, tied to seasonal readiness. The city should be prepared to show residents how these grants are prioritized and whether they deliver measurable public benefit beyond aesthetics.
Roll call vote 9 yes
Mark Bittner
yes
Doug Brandt
yes
Shannon Derby
yes
Bill LeClair
yes
Darla LeClair
yes
Tim Petri
yes
Bonnie Shimulunas
yes
Scott Stechmesser
yes
Adam Wachowski
yes
26-055 New Combination Class "B" Fermented Malt Beverage and "Class B” Intoxicating Liquor License for Uncorked Book Lounge LLC at 1610 Washington Street for Agent Carrie Paczkowski for a period ending June 30, 2026
Passed
Council approved issuing a new liquor license for Uncorked Book Lounge downtown, pending inspections and a background check. For residents, the practical impact is another alcohol-serving business in the downtown mix, with the usual questions being hours, noise, and how the city enforces rules consistently across establishments.
26-056 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 water main improvement contract to Vinton Construction for $349,985, with a total not-to-exceed of $384,983.50 including contingency. The project replaces about 2,200 feet of water main on STH 42/Lincoln Avenue, with financing primarily through the WDNR Safe Drinking Water Loan Program. This is the kind of unglamorous infrastructure spending that prevents bigger failures later, but residents should still expect clear timelines and traffic disruption updates.
Roll call vote 9 yes
Mark Bittner
yes
Doug Brandt
yes
Shannon Derby
yes
Bill LeClair
yes
Darla LeClair
yes
Tim Petri
yes
Bonnie Shimulunas
yes
Scott Stechmesser
yes
Adam Wachowski
yes
26-057 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 ALS Lift Assist Fees
Passed 9-0
Council adopted an ordinance to formalize billing third-party facilities $250 for lift-assist calls when there’s no injury, treatment, or transport. The city’s rationale is that these calls tie up staff and equipment and create costs that don’t get reimbursed, especially when facilities already have staff and equipment on-site. This is a policy choice about who pays—taxpayers or institutions—and it will matter most to local care facilities and their residents.
Roll call vote 9 yes
Mark Bittner
yes
Doug Brandt
yes
Shannon Derby
yes
Darla LeClair
yes
Bill LeClair
yes
Tim Petri
yes
Bonnie Shimulunas
yes
Scott Stechmesser
yes
Adam Wachowski
yes
26-058 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 municipal court fees from $38 to $48, citing state authorization and cost recovery. The city framed it as shifting more court costs to users rather than the general fund. For residents, it’s a straightforward fee increase—small per case, but it adds up and can hit harder for people already struggling.
Roll call vote 9 yes
Mark Bittner
yes
Doug Brandt
yes
Shannon Derby
yes
Darla LeClair
yes
Bill LeClair
yes
Tim Petri
yes
Bonnie Shimulunas
yes
Scott Stechmesser
yes
Adam Wachowski
yes
26-059 Code of Conduct for City of Two Rivers Elected Officials
Passed 9-0
Council adopted a revised code of conduct for elected officials, cutting it down from 14 pages to 4 and removing a line discouraging councilmembers from using devices during meetings for non-city business. Streamlining can be good, but the device-use edit is a tell: council chose to avoid putting even a soft expectation in writing about staying focused in meetings. If residents want better meeting culture and accountability, this is one of the few levers that’s actually visible and enforceable.
Roll call vote 9 yes
Mark Bittner
yes
Doug Brandt
yes
Shannon Derby
yes
Bill LeClair
yes
Darla LeClair
yes
Tim Petri
yes
Bonnie Shimulunas
yes
Scott Stechmesser
yes
Adam Wachowski
yes
26-060 Professional Services Agreement with SafeStep LLC for Sidewalk Safety Services in the Amount Not-to-Exceed $40,000
Passed 9-0
Council approved a not-to-exceed $40,000 contract with SafeStep LLC for a sidewalk safety pilot using saw-cutting to reduce trip hazards. The city says this will improve ADA accessibility and reduce liability while fixing more spots than full replacement would. Council communications in the same meeting show residents are already asking what the new sidewalk approach will cost them personally—so the city needs to publish clear, plain-language rules and examples before confusion turns into backlash.
Roll call vote 9 yes
Mark Bittner
yes
Doug Brandt
yes
Shannon Derby
yes
Bill LeClair
yes
Darla LeClair
yes
Tim Petri
yes
Bonnie Shimulunas
yes
Scott Stechmesser
yes
Adam Wachowski
yes
CLOSED SESSION The City Council reserves the right to enter into Closed Session, pursuant to Wisc. Stats 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 went into closed session under Wisconsin’s personnel/performance exception (19.85(1)(c)) to discuss a management-level employee. Closed sessions are legal in limited cases, but they also reduce public visibility into how major pay and performance decisions are made. In this case, the later vote makes clear the discussion was about the city manager’s compensation.
RECONVENE IN OPEN SESSION To consider possible actions in follow-up to closed session discussions
Passed 6-3
After returning to open session, council voted to give the city manager a 3% raise effective April 1, 2026. The 6-3 split is notable because it signals real disagreement even after the private discussion, and residents are left without the underlying reasoning that typically comes with a public debate. When raises are handled this way, the city should expect questions about performance metrics, comparables, and why the decision couldn’t be explained more fully in open session.