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Two Rivers City Hall
1717 E. Park Street
Two Rivers, WI 54241
920-793-5523
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| |  | A Message from the City Manager | |
We have inherited challenges but together we are building the future.
The challenge of local government is one of balance, especially here in Two Rivers.
Balancing competing goods, not choosing between good and bad. Managing cities means managing contradictions.
Two Rivers needs to welcome visitors while prioritizing residents. We need to encourage growth while also striving for affordability. And we need to invest in change while preserving our unique character and history. It’s about balancing contradictions.
Those competing priorities are the reality of governing a community. Every decision involves weighing multiple interests, considering both short-term needs and long-term impacts, and making sure that today's investments continue to benefit future generations.
At the same time, we ask a great deal of our City employees. We expect municipalities to provide essential services such as police and fire protection, maintain streets and multiple utilities, and respond to emergencies at any hour of the day. We also expect our people to operate parks, cemeteries, and recreation programs, host community events, support economic development, plan for future growth, and help address complex challenges such as housing and workforce needs.
It’s reasonable to have these high expectations because strong communities require all of these things to thrive. Two Rivers deserves all of these things.
Yet there is an inherent tension in local government...
...because while residents rightly expect a high level of service, few people are eager to pay more taxes to support them, even though the costs to provide those things are increasing each year.
As a result, local governments across the country find themselves tasked with doing more while operating with limited resources, which creates underfunded communities and unsustainable budgets.
Lessons from Two Rivers in 1996...
What is perhaps most interesting to me in my first year as City Manager is that many of the challenges we face today are not new. While recently reviewing the City of Two Rivers' 1996 Strategic Plan, I was struck by how relevant many of its observations remain 30 years later.
The 1996 plan identified several factors that could limit future success in Two Rivers, including:
- negative attitudes toward change;
- a lack of financial investment;
- inconsistent follow-through on long-term plans;
- and limited positive support for community initiatives.
There is a certain irony in realizing that many of these same issues continue to surface today, 30 years later. While the specific projects, people, and circumstances have changed, the underlying challenges remain familiar and have been amplified by social media channels.
Communities that succeed over the long term are not the same ones that avoid obstacles; they are the ones that recognize them, address them honestly, and continue moving forward despite them.
The fact that these themes appeared in a strategic plan written in 1996 should also serve as a reminder that progress rarely happens overnight. Building a stronger community requires patience, persistence, investment, and a willingness to think beyond immediate concerns. It requires residents, businesses, elected officials, volunteers, and civic organizations all pulling in the same direction.
As we look ahead, our success will depend not only on the projects we undertake, but also on our willingness to support positive people, healthy change, and investment in our community so we can accomplish our long-term goals.
The choices we make today will help determine what the next generation of Two Rivers residents experience thirty years from now.
-City Manager Kyle Kordell
| | | City Hall Survey – Public Funding Priorities | |
Your input is needed.
The City of Two Rivers places resident engagement at the cornerstone of all major decisions. Without additional revenue, local municipal services may have to be reduced in the future to balance the General Fund. What follows is a list of municipal services supported by the City General Fund that we would like your feedback on.
If you have not already taken this, please spend 5 minutes and share your point of view.
Frequently Asked Question: None of these choices are easy, where is the option to “reduce expenses without cutting services”?
Answer: Local governments across the USA are struggling with tough decisions each budget cycle as expenses are rising faster than revenues and there are no “slam-dunk” easy answers. Cutting General Fund expenses has a direct correlation on City staffing levels and services provided. The City wants to know what the most important services are to you so the community is involved each year in making tough budget decisions.
Public Funding Priorities Survey
| | Two Rivers Has Some of the Lowest Electric Rates in the Region | | |
Two Rivers is 1 of 51 Communities in WPPI
Keeping electric service affordable remains a priority for Two Rivers Utilities and recent comparisons show that local customers continue to benefit from some of the lowest electric bills in the area.
From January through June 2026, the average residential electric bill in Two Rivers was $72.43 per month, making it the second-lowest among seven regional utilities studied.
• 5.3% below the regional average
• Second-lowest average bill in the comparison
• Reliable, locally owned public power
The average bill across all seven utilities was $76.51 per month, meaning Two Rivers customers paid about $4 less per month than the regional average. This is only for the "Electric Service" of the bill, not charges from other utility services.
CITY FACT: The difference between Two Rivers and the lowest-cost utility in the comparison was just $3.53 per month....or about 12 cents per day.
Providing reliable service at competitive rates is one of the many advantages of community-owned utilities like the one we have here. WPPI operates differently than an investor-owned utility.
Who did this electric rates survey we see above?
We know this data is accurate because the Wisconsin Public Service Commission (PSC) maintains an Electric Bill Comparison Report that calculates what the average residential customer pays each month for electric utilities across the state using PSC-approved rates.
Rather than comparing just the cost per kilowatt-hour, the report looks at the total monthly bill, including customer charges and other rate components, providing a more accurate picture of what residents actually pay. Using this data, Two Rivers continues to rank among the lowest-cost electric utilities in our region.
Anyone can do a comparison if you want to double check the data: Click Here
| | New Fire Engine is Finally Being Built! | | The next generation of fire protection is on the way.
In February 2024, the Two Rivers City Council approved purchasing a new fire pumper truck to replace a 1994 engine that has faithfully served our community for more than 30 years.
The City contracted with Pierce Manufacturing in 2024, securing a purchase price of approximately $840,000 for the new apparatus. By ordering early, the City locked in pricing before subsequent industry cost increases, resulting in significant savings compared to purchasing the same apparatus today.
The new pumper truck is part of the City's long-term capital replacement plan to ensure our firefighters have safe, reliable, and modern equipment when responding to emergencies. Construction is currently underway, and delivery is expected later this year.
If everything stays on schedule, residents may get their first glimpse of the new pumper truck rolling through the Two Rivers Christmas Parade.
This new engine will serve the Two Rivers community for the next 20+ years, helping protect lives and property for generations to come.
We look forward to welcoming this important investment in public safety to our community!
| Manitowoc County Celebrates a Record-Breaking Year for Tourism | | |
A Destination Worth Visiting and Investing In
Wisconsin tourism reached an all-time high in 2025, generating a record $27 billion in economic impact statewide and welcoming 117.9 million visits. We’re proud to share that Manitowoc County and Two Rivers have been part of this historic success.
In 2025, tourism in Manitowoc County generated:
- $240 million in total economic impact
- $140.8 million in direct visitor spending
- Support for 1,746 local jobs
- $59.1 million in labor income for local workers
- $14.8 million in state and local tax revenue
This achievement belongs to all of Manitowoc County, including Two Rivers, Manitowoc, Mishicot, Kiel, Valders, Reedsville, Cleveland, St. Nazianz, Maribel, Francis Creek, Whitelaw, Newton, Centerville, Rockland, Liberty, Cato, Maple Grove, and the many towns, villages, businesses, attractions, events, and organizations that make our area a great place to visit.
To put tourism’s impact into perspective, visitor spending generated $3.2 billion in government revenue statewide in 2025, and without those visitor-generated taxes, each Wisconsin household would need to pay an additional $692 per year to replace that revenue.
Thank you to everyone who helps make Manitowoc County a destination worth visiting. Your hard work continues to strengthen our communities, support local businesses, and enhance quality of life for residents and visitors alike.
| | Farewell to Library Director Dawson | | |
Turning the Page After 19 Years of Service
This week the City Council recognized Library Director Jeff Dawson for his 19 years of dedicated service to the Two Rivers community.
Jeff has provided outstanding leadership at Lester Public Library and has helped guide the library through nearly two decades of growth, innovation, and service to residents of all ages. On behalf of the community, the City Council thanked Jeff for his commitment and the lasting impact he has made on Two Rivers.
Community members are also invited to attend a farewell reception at Lester Public Library on Thursday, June 25, from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM to thank Jeff personally and wish him well in his next chapter.
| | Turn Off Outdoor Lights Sunset to Sunrise | | Two Rivers Community Rummage Sales This Weekend | | |
Two Rivers Community Rummage Sales kicked off late yesterday, and continue through Saturday at 5 pm. With a great number of sales throughout the community, you're sure to find hidden treasures, great deals, and something for everyone.
For maps of sales, Click Here.
Happy shopping!
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🍨 Sundae Thursday, a sweet community tradition!🍨
Join us as we celebrate the birthplace of the ice cream sundae!
📆 Thursday, June 25th
📍Central Park
⏰ 5:30-8:00pm
Event Schedule:
- 5:30 Entertainment, Childrens' Games & Inflatables
- 6:00 Ice Cream Eating Contest (Pre Register 920.793.5592)
- 6:45 Two Rivers Community Band
A huge thank you to our amazing event sponsors for helping make this community event possible:
⭐VT Industries
⭐ Rotary Club of Two Rivers
⭐ Cedar Crest
Gather your friends and family and celebrate a delicious piece of history with us! See you there!
🌧In the event of inclement weather, the event will move inside to the JE Hamilton Community House
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Rev up for one of Two Rivers' Biggest Summer Traditions!
The Cool City Classic Car Show & Cruise returns June 26-27, bringing hundreds of classic cars, hot rods, muscle cars, motorcycles, live music, food trucks, and plenty of chrome to downtown Two Rivers!
Cruise: Friday, June 26
Car Show: Saturday, June 27
The weekend kicks off Friday evening with the always-popular cruise into downtown, followed by a full day of classic cars and family-friendly fun on Saturday. Whether you're a lifelong car enthusiast or just looking for a great summer event, there's something for everyone.
Grab your lawn chair, bring the family, and enjoy a weekend celebrating horsepower, history, and community in the Cool City!
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Beach Bash 2026 is Almost Here!
Get ready for a fun summer celebration on Wisconsin's lakeshore!
Join us at beautiful Neshotah Beach for a day filled with family fun, live music, food, activities, and plenty of sunshine along the shores of Lake Michigan.
Whether you're a longtime resident or visiting for the first time, Beach Bash is a great opportunity to experience everything that makes Two Rivers a special place to live, work, and play.
Mark your calendars, bring your friends and family, and we'll see you at the beach!
| | For more events and things to do in Two Rivers, click the link below. | | Public Meetings Next Week | | |
Agendas are available for public meetings at least 24 hours prior to meeting times. Click Here
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