The City of Manitowoc Finance Committee met on Monday, July 6, 2026, at 5:30 PM in Council Chambers and via Zoom. The meeting covered a consent agenda, several discussion and action items, a closed session for operator license applications and a tax increment financing term sheet, and public comments in support of license applicants.
All right, it is 5:30, and I will call the finance committee to order. Uh, we are without a quorum currently. We're waiting on one more member to show up. So we're a little limited on what we can do until we get a quorum. However, uh, we'll start with roll call and we have Alder Bry and myself present. Um Alder Reckleberg at Alder Um Dunbar are excused, and Alder Schlei is MIA, he will be on his way. Um so that's a roll call. We can do public comment with not being having a quorum. So um during public comment, anybody who wishes to address the finance committee may do so. And if you're here for um any of the license renewals, uh, this would be your time to address the committee. Um you can do that during public comment before the committee would take any action on discuss it in closed session. So is there anybody from the public that wishes to address the finance committee this evening? Yes, come forward to the table, state your name and address for the record. Hi, uh Robert Duane, 1010 South Eighth Street. Um I'm here in support of Lacey Minto's request for an operator's license. Lacey's one of our drug court graduates. Um it's my understanding that um that the in her initial review uh led to her being denied because of her uh past record, which is understandable. Um as I stated in the letter um that I sent to her, and then I believe she forwarded on to you. Uh you know, when she started with us, um she was every bit the person uh that put that record together, but for the fact that she had a very very strong desire to change, and she has. She's remained a rest-free for I believe the last eight years. Um she's worked full-time. She's a great mother to her children. And I know that this committee in particular, um, well, not the finance committee, but the the city council as a whole, uh, has been very supportive of people in recovery and you know, the second chances if they're willing to work for them. Uh and she has. And as I understand it, she's she needs a license for promotion. Um her employer believes she's the most qualified person. Um, but she can't do it if she doesn't have the license. Uh and that puts the employer in the position then of having to uh uh go with somebody who's n who they don't think is as qualified. Um I wouldn't say this about too many people. Uh but as I as I finished with in the letter, if I could use my law license as collateral for hers, I would. Um she's kept in touch with the program over the years. Um I've seen uh that you know her commitment to her family, the community, and her recovery is not a temporary thing, it's a permanent thing. And uh she's looking for an opportunity to uh make things better for herself, her family and the community that's given her that chance. So I would strongly encourage the committee members to um grant her that. Thank you. Okay, thank you. And just so everyone's aware during public comment, we our rules do not allow us to have a dialogue back and forth, so it's just your opportunity to address the committee. So is there anybody else that wishes to address? Yes. Uh thank you, committee Jason Latta um A18 State Street Lighthouse Recovery Community Center here to speak in favor of Lacey Minto's operator's license. Echo almost everything uh Judge Duane said, except I don't have a law license to bet with. Uh but anyway, Lacey was our second employee when we opened the doors in 2018, had worked with us all the way through July last year, where she had an opportunity to go to Aldi's in the last two uh last short of a year, has had two promotions. This uh operator's license would be contingent of her that position, so a big need there. She has done fantastic. She stayed engaged with the recovery community prior to Lacey working for me as executive director at the White House. I was a drug core coordinator from 2018 to 2022 while she was in the program. I've stayed engaged with her ever since. Uh so I hope the committee takes a look at this and uh grants the operator's license. Thank you all for your time. Appreciate your work.