Manitowoc County Lakes Association grills county executive candidates on environment

Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter

Bob Ziegelbauer, left, and Eric Sitkiewitz take part in a candidate forum Thursday for Manitowoc County Lakes Association.

MANITOWOC – Bob Ziegelbauer and Eric Sitkiewitz, candidates for Manitowoc County executive, shifted gears in their latest candidate forum for the Manitowoc County Lakes Association.

The forum took place Thursday before their regular meeting, and many of the questions were about water quality and environmental issues.

"As we take a look at economic growth, we have to be very conscious of runoff with the soil and water, we have to make sure the water quality is not disrupting the ecosystems in the lake," Sitkiewitz said in response to a question about the state of the Manitowoc County Soil and Water Conservation Department.

"I actually think the department would be stronger as we grow the county," he continued. "We want to make sure we are doing that responsibly to the ecosystems around us. If it (the department) is not strong enough today in the current climate, I think we would have to bolster it."

Other members of MCLA expressed concern over the efforts to improve water quality for the lake and other sources of groundwater. One member said the area's tourism could be affected by having to close beaches for high levels of E. coli.

"In the last few years, it has actually gotten better, but we are dependent on the wind, we can't control the outcome very much," Ziegelbauer said. "But I think it is improving and the cities of Two Rivers and Manitowoc are looking at their local beaches and dressing them up, getting them in the best possible shape, and that is a good thing."

Sitkiewitz inferred that he believed a lot of the pollution in Lake Michigan was coming from the larger cities like Chicago and Milwaukee until another audience member said research from UW-Milwaukee had shown that the Manitowoc River was one of the largest sources of phosphorus to Lake Michigan.

"Funding is an issue, resources are an issue, but quality of life and safety shouldn't be an issue," Sitkiewitz said. "I don't have a good understanding of that directly, and I think that would be a good place for us to start."

Ziegelbauer also addressed concerns about the potential for manure spills and pollution from area farms in the county.

"Ten years ago, there were occasions where we had fines and spills on a regular basis," Ziegelbauer said. "Now, that is happening very rarely because of the prevention efforts that Jerry Halverson and Soil and Water Conservation. … I think agriculture is an important part of our community, and I think we have gotten along with them."

Sitkiewitz and Ziegelbauer will appear on the ballot in the April 3 general election.

Absentee ballots are available from the City Clerk's office until March 29. Ballots can be mailed to registered voters upon receipt of an absentee ballot request form, or people can vote in person by absentee ballot at the City Clerk's office.

People need to be registered to vote and provide a photo ID. To register, people can visit the City Clerk's office or go online at www.myvote.wi.gov and provide proof of residence.