Positive sentiments were the theme of Tuesday’s Sturgeon Bay Common Council meeting. The meeting started off with a proclamation making June Open Door Pride Month. In other business, City Administrator Josh VanLieshout read a recommendation which was approved, awarding a contract for a project renovating the Municipal Services building reception area. The contract was awarded to RJM Construction, LLC. They made the lowest bid coming in at $76,300. The Sturgeon Bay Engineering Department reported the total costs for the project will come in well under the remaining money in the 2021 Capital Budget for City Hall improvements.
A staff restructure with the Sturgeon Bay Police Department was unanimously approved, creating an Assistant Chief position. Councilman Dan Williams made a motion to adjust the command structure, which was an idea made by Police Chief Clint Henry. No positions will be added or subtracted, but rather the Lieutenant position, which is unfilled, will dissolve. Henry clarified the idea, saying that a 2019 wage and compensation study found that the Lieutenant position being renamed to Assistant Chief will be a more accurate reflection of job tasks. He added that it’ll help reorganize job duties in the department, especially for the Chief and Captain. The change is expected to paint a clearer picture in wage negotiations.
The council took care of their last discussion item, and approved a recommendation from the City Plan Commission, recommending that the council work with WWP Development, LLC, regarding their development proposal for the west waterfront. WWP Development is proposing to develop the Sturgeon Bay Plaza, an approximately 5400 square foot building consisting of two stories and a rooftop patio. The funds to build the plaza come out to $2.4 million. Their proposal states that they desire to have tenants up and running in the plaza in May of 2022.
VanLieshout said in the City Administrator’s report he’s pleased with the process of the Otumba Beach project and also stressed for people to pay attention to road construction barricades. Mayor David Ward finished the meeting touching on Monday’s Memorial Day Ceremony. He called it a nice event and was impressed with the Sturgeon Bay Fire Department preparing the event which held about 200 people.
