In 2019, the Village of Sister Bay and Door County Land Trust worked together to protect Pebble Beach from development. The village purchased the property for $2.4 million, while Door County Land Trust helped raise $500,000 in donations and also helped secure a $1 million grant from the Coastal Management Program’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
The village had hoped to receive funding from the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program for the balance. While that wish has come partially true, the state’s Joint Finance Committee only approved about half of what was requested — $392,000 in Knowles-Nelson funds.
The village’s request was initially denied by the committee without any indication as to why. This is not uncommon. The Joint Finance Committee is made up of 16 members from the state Senate and Assembly, and any member of the committee can anonymously object to a grant and stall the process.
Read more in this article in the Door County News Trust and this article in the Green Bay Press Gazette.
Photo by Emily Mills, 2007.
