Utility relief, not repair reimbursement
The decision is intended to ease the museum's financial strain following about $4,000 in emergency electrical work in March. It does not reimburse that expense. Cadillac News corrected its Oct. 23, 2026, report, which had incorrectly described the commission's action as repayment of the repair bill.
Commissioners Rick Rayment, Sue Fullerton and Lisa Gillett supported waiving the utility charges, while Jessica Wilkins, Nichole Johnson and Parker Siddall opposed it, according to Cadillac News. Sisco's tie-breaking vote secured approval. Johnson described such votes as unusual and said commissioners carefully weigh decisions involving taxpayer money.
The relief comes after Manton approved a water rate increase in March 2026. WPBN/WGTU (UpNorthLive) reported that base rates increased by more than 80% and the average monthly water bill rose from about $19 to about $43. The increase was intended to address a water fund deficit and replace aging lead pipes. The city also declined a state loan and grant.
Emergency spending drew scrutiny
The historical museum occupies a city-owned building across from the fire department. It and the adjacent veterans museum are separate institutions, although members of their boards frequently work together.
According to Cadillac News, donations covered the March repair at the time. The expense exceeded the historical museum's $1,000 portion of a $2,000 budget shared with the veterans museum.
The historical museum board hired an electrician for the urgent work without obtaining city approval first, the newspaper reported. Wilkins and Johnson said the expenditure should have gone before the commission to avoid violating the city's purchasing policy.
Wilkins, who also serves on the historical museum board, said she was surprised when she learned of the spending earlier in October.
Museum representatives address the commission
Ken Martz, a member of the Manton Area Veterans Museum, presented the historical museum's case at the Oct. 20 meeting. None of the historical museum board members who had participated in the emergency spending decision attended.
Martz said the city's financial condition had made the request difficult to raise. "We didn't want to ask when the city couldn't make payroll," he told the commission.
Veterans Museum curator Joe Hurlburt said the historical museum board members who made the spending decision no longer serve on that board.
