The Manitowoc County Board of Supervisors is not moving forward with some parts of the Manitowoc County Courthouse Dome Project.
The board didn’t have enough votes to borrow about $7.5 million for the first part of the project.
The vote was 13-11 vote meaning it didn’t have a three-fourths majority to pass.
This part of the project would have included HVAC and an engineering study. The dome project itself wouldn’t start until 2025-26.
Board supervisors asked County Public Works Director Gerry Neuser several questions about an engineering study and if it’s worth the cost.
Several supervisors who voted against the project said they didn’t like how the county is paying for it when residents are paying more.
“And I realize that we need to take care of the county property, but I just wonder if there isn’t a better and a smaller way to do it,” said 12th District Supervisor Kevin Behnke.
11th District Supervisor Ryan Phipps explained, “I just would really like to take another look at this, and I’d like us to think about all the costs we’re encoring as a county and the potential future cost. And you know that’s really my apprehension.”
Neuser says the project dome is leaking and needs to be done soon.
“We have structural damage,” he described. “It’s not going to get easier or cheaper in the future to do this. It’s something that if it was my house I could just wish it away but it’s not going away.”
Other board members agreed, saying the project needs done because the problem isn’t going to go away.
Members of the public also spoke at the meeting against the way the county is borrowing money for the project.
Some said they wish the project would be broken up further so each part is done separately.
