Manitowoc Finance Committee Meeting - September 8, 2026
Manitowoc Finance Committee Meeting - September 8, 2026
The Finance Committee of the City of Manitowoc met on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, at 5:30 PM in Council Chambers. All members were present except Alderperson Dunbar. The committee approved a consent agenda, discussed several action items, and entered closed session to deliberate on a contested operator's license application.
Consent Calendar
- Approved the minutes of the August 3, 2026 Finance Committee meeting (unanimous vote of 4-0).
Public Comments & Testimony
- Rory Silbernagel, resident of Manitowoc, addressed the committee regarding his two-year operator's license application (#260249), which had initially been recommended for denial. He stated he is appealing that decision because the license is required for his job at a Meyer gas station in Manitowoc. He noted he has maintained a clean record since 2015, regularly attends NA and AA meetings (20–30 times per year), and already holds a liquor license in the village of Cleveland, Manitowoc County. He emphasized that the gas station is not a bar and no open containers would be present.
Discussion Items
- Nomination to Manitowoc Public Utilities Commission (Item 26-0803): Alderperson Reckelberg nominated David J. Diedrich for reappointment to a five-year term (October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2031). No other nominations were made. The committee voted unanimously (4-0) to forward the recommendation to the Common Council.
- Temporary Extension of Premises for Petskull Brewing (Item 26-0804): The committee approved a request from Petskull Brewing Company LLC to temporarily extend its premises to the grass lot behind the brewery adjacent to York Street for the Manitowoc MetalFest 4 event on September 11–12, 2026, from 12:00 PM to 11:00 PM. The vote was unanimous (4-0).
- Unbudgeted Purchase of John Deere Utility Tractor (Item 26-0805): The Parks & Recreation Department requested approval to purchase a John Deere utility tractor for an amount not to exceed $50,000. The request was unbudgeted because the previously approved project (a like-for-like replacement of a Holder tractor, initially budgeted at $183,000 with a $25,000 trade-in) was revised after the Holder tractor incurred additional repairs and was deemed inefficient. Approximately $5,000 of the remaining $8,000 from the original borrowing will be used toward this purchase. The new tractor is smaller, does not require special licensing to operate, and will better serve the department's needs. The committee approved the request unanimously (4-0).
Closed Session
- The committee voted unanimously (4-0) to enter closed session pursuant to Wisconsin Statute § 19.85(1)(a) to deliberate on the operator's license application of R. Silbernagel (Item 26-0806), which involved a quasi-judicial matter.
Key Outcomes
- Operator's License for R. Silbernagel (Item 26-0806): Following closed session, the committee reconvened in open session and voted unanimously (4-0) to recommend approval of the two-year operator's license to the Common Council, pursuant to Wisconsin State Statute 111.335. The final vote by the Common Council is scheduled for the meeting on Monday, September 21, 2026.
Meeting Transcript
Okay, it is 547. I will call the finance committee meeting to order. Apologize for the little delay, but we will get through this as expedient as possible. So uh roll call. Um, everybody is present with the exception of Alder Dunbar. Uh we'll move on to public comment, public input. If anybody from the public wishes to address the finance committee this evening, this is your opportunity. Second call for public comment, public input. Yes, sir. Please come forward to the table and give your name and address for the record. Green is on it. Okay. Hi, my name is Rory Silbernogle. I live at 3311 Yorkshire Lane, Apartment 8 in Manitowoc. I'm here regarding my uh liquor license. Um, it was initially put forward for denial. I'm here to appeal that. Um I have my bullet points here. Um it I am here because it is a required for my job. I work in uh gas station, the Meyer Gas Station here in Manitowak. Um they asked me to appear and um appeal to you guys. Also, I have had a clean record since 2015. I've been to I attend NA and AA meetings 20 to 30 times a year, not every week, but just about every other, I would say. Um and I've been clean since 2015 as well. I have already got a license in Manitow County, um, not in Manitowak proper, but in the village of Cleveland. I was issued a liquor license at another gas station. And uh I just want to say I'm not it's it's not a bar, it's just a gas station, so there are no open containers or anything dangerous like that. That's all I wanted to say. Thank you. Okay, thank you. Uh, we'll take up your application uh later in the meeting or your appeal. Uh then we'll move on. Any other public comment? Okay, seeing none, I will close public comment and we'll move on to the consent agenda. Is there only one item on the consent agenda? Move to approve the agenda as presented. Second. Motion to approve and a second. There is no discussion on consent. So all those in favor? Aye, aye, and opposed. Okay, that passes. Then we'll move on to our discussion and action items. First up is nomination and election for recommendation to the common council for member to serve on the Matwalk Public Utilities Commission. Uh, if you take a look attached, is a letter from current commissioner David Dietrich expressing a reappointment to a five-year term. So uh what we would look for is a nomination of David Dietrich, followed by an election if there is a nomination. So moved. The motion or uh nomination by Alder Recklerberg? Yes. Is there any other nominations for MPU commissioner?
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