MARINETTE — A Menominee Nation dedication ceremony recently took place in Menekaunee with little fanfare — exactly the way the Menominee Nation Tribe wanted it.
“There was no formal invite,” Alderman Ken Keller said Tuesday at the Marinette Common Council meeting. “And that was preferred by the Menominee Nation and the governor’s (Tony Evers) office. It gave them the opportunity to express their gratitude for the monuments that are there and showcase their place of origin.”
Mayor Steve Genisot said the Menominee Nation was excited that Evers took time out of his day to come here (on June 13) and attend in person. He and Alderman Doug Oitzinger both said the group also singled out Keller for all his help on the project.
“Ken, we appreciate your representation of the city and your good working relationship with Menominee Nation,” Genisot said.
“My reply was they didn’t have to thank me because I get rewarded when I see the expression in their tribes members’ eyes,” Keller said.
The council meeting had a light agenda. Here are some other highlights:
• Land purchase — The council voted 8-1 to approve the purchase of the Heck property at 515 Hillis Court. The parcel, located by Red Arrow Park, abuts to city property. Genisot said another parcel across the street is included in the sale, through Assist 2 Sell Buyers and Sellers Realty of Marinette and Menominee.
The plan is for the city to put the house up for sale and have that house moved to a vacant lot in the city, the mayor said. He said that way it will remain a taxable city property.
Alderperson Liz Mikutowski asked what happens if the property doesn’t sell? Genisot said the city would be able to move the house to a vacant lot and then sell it.
Mikutowski cast the lone no vote.
• Gone fishing — The National Walleye Tour (NWT) of 2025 will be held in Marinette. Genisot said this will be a three-day championship tournament with the top 40 anglers from across the country.
“They feel that there is great fishing here,” he said.
Genisot said money for the event — planed for Sept. 3 — 5, 2025 — will come from the hotel/motel room tax fund. Some of the city’s costs include a $15,000 host site fee to the NWT, complimentary housing for NWT staff and camera crew, and a launch facility and weigh-in sites.
More information on the tournament will be forthcoming.
• After further review — Oitzinger made an amendment regarding a contract for professional services between the Bay-Lake Regional Planning Commission and the city for the Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan.
“I would at least like to see what other consultants charge,” he said. “It’s worthwhile to take a pause and get more proposals. I don’t like just one quote.”
The Bay-Lake quote is $68,870.
Oitzinger said he reviewed Bay-Lake previous work on bike path plans and he could only find one such project. His amended motion passed 8-1 with alderman Rick Polzin voting no.
• Bryck house — The council approved a proposal from Bryck and Sons Builders, LLC for a vacant residential lot development at Grant Street and Pierce Avenue (the former Haller Beverage property).
The builder, Bryan Polzin, is proposing a two-bedroom, two-bath single story home on the lot at 1000 Pierce Ave. It would be approximately 1,150 square feet. He previously constructed a home on a former city lot on Armstrong Street. That property sold in three days.
The vote was 8-0 with Rick Polzin abstaining because Bryan is his son.
• National Guard Armory — Genisot said the police department went through the property on Mary Street in the last three weeks. Chief Jon LaCombe will formulate a plan which will come back to the council.
• Fire cleanup — Genisot said the site where a fire took place on Wisconsin Street has been cleared. The cost was for a low bid of $17,000. The city will be looking for reimbursement from the property owner, the mayor said.
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