Prior to the vote on the grain elevator donation and move, several speakers asked the Sturgeon Bay City Council to give an ad hoc study committee time to gather public input on the best uses for the waterfront parcels on the city’s west side. One of them was James Schuessler, Executive Director of the Door County Economic Development Corporation… That statement, and others like it, … Continue reading →

Whether residents of the City of Sturgeon Bay want it or not, a majority of the City Council Tuesday agreed to accept the donation of the old grain elevator and its move back to the west side waterfront. The vote was four to two, and came after the council tabled action on the requests for a referendum in April related to the donation and move. … Continue reading →

If requests for public input on referendum questions are approved by the Sturgeon Bay City Council, residents in the city will be asked to weigh in on the issues of marijuana use, and what to do with the old grain elevator during the April election. The council agenda for Tuesday evening features items that would gauge public opinion on legalizing marijuana for medical and personal … Continue reading →

The Department of Natural Resources has issued a declaratory ruling in regard to the location of the ordinary high water mark on Sturgeon Bay’s west side waterfront. The action came as a result of the settlement of a lawsuit involving the Friends of the Sturgeon Bay Public Waterfront, the city, and the Waterfront Redevelopment Authority. What began as a dispute over the placement of a … Continue reading →

Developer Bob Papke has responded to the settlement action taken by the Sturgeon Bay City Council Tuesday evening. In a short statement, Papke noted that… In 2014, the City of Sturgeon Bay requested that he build a hotel on public property as part of a city plan and, at a great deal of expense, a professional team was assembled to get the job done on … Continue reading →

As anticipated, a majority on the Sturgeon Bay City Council voted to override the veto of Mayor Thad Birmingham Tuesday evening, and in doing so, allowed a settlement with developer Bob Papke. Papke and Sawyer Hotel Development had sued the city for more than a half a million dollars due to alleged misrepresentation related to his effort to build a hotel on the city’s west … Continue reading →

Details of the rationale for Mayor Thad Birmingham’s veto of a settlement agreement related to the city’s waterfront property has been made public. The information is contained in the agenda for the Sturgeon Bay City Council meeting Tuesday evening. A majority of the council approved the $360,000 settlement agreement with developer Bob Papke and Sawyer Hotel Development in an effort to resolve the matter of … Continue reading →

The tentative settlement of a lawsuit involving Sturgeon Bay’s west side waterfront has hit a road block. Mayor Thad Birmingham exercised his veto authority with regard to the agreement. Developer Bob Papke & Sawyer Development, LLC had sued the city for more than a half a million dollars, claiming misrepresentation by the city in that there was no clear title to the land when he … Continue reading →

The attempt to move the old grain elevator from its current location on Sturgeon Bay’s east side waterfront to its former home on the west side was put on hold for the time being as a result of a vote by the Sturgeon Bay City Council Tuesday evening. After about two hours of discussion, council-members voted four to three to reject the proposed move. The … Continue reading →