The City of Manitowoc has filed suit against the city of Two Rivers and its Room Tax Commission.
City Manager Greg Buckley says a special mostly closed session meeting was held following the regularly scheduled Council meeting Monday night with City Attorney Joseph Thuermer present to discuss the best options going forward.
Buckley explained to Seehafer News, “That is a complaint filed by the city of Manitowoc and The Manitowoc Room Tax Commission and that filing seeks to include the city of Two Rivers and the Two Rivers Room Tax Commission as what are called third-party defendants in the lawsuit brought against the city of Manitowoc and its Room Tax Commissions by The Manitowoc Area Visitors and Convention Bureau.”
Discussions between Two Rivers, Manitowoc, and the Manitowoc Area Visitor and Convention Bureau occurred most of last year, to come up with a new agreement that would best meet all parties’ interests before the previous agreement expired on December 31st.
Manitowoc Mayor Justin Nickels says that the agreement, nearly 30 years old, is a bit out of date and felt, as did Buckley, that changes needed to be made.
Negotiations fell apart leading Manitowoc to terminate their part of the agreement and form their own Tourism Department.
Buckley says the Cool City has done likewise.
Meanwhile, Jason Ring, who runs the M.A.V.C.B, also serves on the Two Rivers City Council.
We asked Buckley how this is being handled.
He said that “Mr. Ring chose to exclude himself from the joint meeting with The Room Tax Commission and he’s in close consultation with our City Attorney about any concerns about conflict.”
Two Rivers has until June 6th to respond.
