Coal piles agreement between C. Reiss & Brown County approved

GREEN BAY, Wis (WGBW) – Negotiations have been on and off for over a year, but finally, Brown County and C. Reiss agree on where and how to move coal piles that have been on prime waterfront property for 125 years. 

“ From housing to riverfront development to business and economic impact all over Wisconsin, the impacts of this tentative agreement will be felt for generations,” said Brown County Board of Supervisors Chairman Patrick Buckley.

Brown County Executive Troy Streckenbach said he appreciates the time and effort of all involved from the city, county, and C. Reiss.

“The reality is deals like this take a lot of time, and it’s very complex. We appreciate C. Reiss. They are a private company who didn’t necessarily have to jump on this. I firmly believe that they’re doing this in the benefit of the Greater Green Bay area, which includes Brown County and Northeast Wisconsin,” Streckenbach said. “So from that standpoint, we appreciate the long journey that we just embarked on.”

Reactions to coal piles agreement

C. Reiss is the owner of the coal piles. Its CEO, Keith Haslehoff, issued this statement.

“The C. Reiss Company has been proud to be a part of the Green Bay community for more than a hundred years, and with this agreement, we look forward to being a part of it for the next hundred years. The agreement that they’re gonna vote on tonight will help Green Bay accomplish at least three long-term community objectives: Relocating the coal piles downriver, redeveloping, and revitalizing C. Reiss’ downtown waterfront location, which has the potential to generate significant economic activity. And then investing millions into Brown County’s port infrastructure.

“ We wouldn’t be here without the hard work and dedication of many state and local leaders. I want to thank several of them: Governor Tony Evers and his team, the State Secretary of Administration, Kathy Blumenfeld, Green Bay Mayor Eric Genrich and his team, the Brown County Board of Supervisors and its chairman, Pat Buckley, the Brown County Administration, and the County Executive Troy Streckenbach, State Representative Amaad Rivera-Wagner, the members of the Green Bay Common Council, Port Director Dean Haen. And lastly, I want to thank C.Reiss’ ownership for putting up with this the whole time.”

For decades, mayors and community members in Green Bay have discussed relocating the coal piles and freeing up the waterfront area for development.

“You know, there were a few twists and turns on this winding road, even a few recent ones. But that’s natural when you’re doing a deal of this magnitude,” Green Bay Mayor Eric Genrich said about the agreement. “This is a difficult thing to do. If it were easy to solve, it would have been solved 50 years ago, 75 years ago. It’s literally something that mayors of the city of Green Bay and other community leaders have been working on for upwards of 75 years. So, this is a massive achievement.” 

Former Green Bay Mayor Jim Schmitt, who led the city from 2003 to 2019, said mayors and community leaders have been working on moving the coal to allow for waterfront development since the 1960s. 

“ When I got elected mayor in 2003, I called or visited with all the previous mayors. And I met with Romy (Roman) Denissen (Mayor of Green Bay from 1959-1965), said Schmitt. “He’s telling me about Green Bay and the politics, how that works. And then I said, ‘Anything that you wish you would’ve got done?’ He goes, ‘Yeah, those damn coal piles!” And that’s how long ago it was.”

State reaction to coal pile project

If the parties did not reach a deal by the end of May, the state of Wisconsin threatened to pull a 15 million grant earmarked to expand port operations at the Pulliam Site. Luckily, the state extended the deadline.

Diana Maas, Assistant Deputy Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Administration, said the state knows the grant money will have a generational impact.

“ Getting here has been quite a journey. We’ve heard the coal piles have been dominating the downtown Green Bay area for over a century. It posed a monumental barrier to neighborhood revitalization as well as an environmental hazard. I’ve even heard that folks have tried to ski the coal piles? I think we can all agree that Green Bay deserves a better symbol for our future,” Maas said. “So putting this $15 million state investment to work means making a generational impact for economic development, for environmental and public health, and for simply improving the quality of life of our Green Bay area residents.”

State Representative Amaad Rivera-Wagner (D-Green Bay) called the agreement a “once-in-a-generation victory” for Green Bay’s citizens. Rivera-Wagner worked closely with C.Reiss and Brown County as Chief of Staff for Mayor Genrich.

“I was proud to help guide this process before stepping into elected office, and even prouder to see it through today,” Rivera-Wagner said in a statement. “This is what responsive government looks like—when we center people, not politics, and act with purpose.”

Other members of the Wisconsin State Legislature from Brown County were present at the Brown County Board of Supervisors’ special meeting last night.

Senator Jamie Wall (D-Green Bay) said, “I am delighted that Brown County and C. Reiss have agreed to relocate the coal piles. I look forward to working with the city, county, and state to help develop the site.” 

Representative Ryan Spaude (D-Ashwaubenon) said, “Green Bay wins!  After years of negotiations, I’m thrilled that we’re finally moving the coal piles. The relocation will lead to greater economic development, better health outcomes, and a stronger community. This is a moment we can all be proud of.”

Terms of the agreement

The coal won’t go to the former Pulliam Power Plant Site but to the Fox River Terminal, which C. Reiss’ parent company owns. The terminal currently houses salt. The company will move that salt to a 16-acre area of the former Pulliam site.

The agreement between Brown County and C. Reiss involves the company leasing 16 acres of land from the county for $350,000 a year. That land is part of the site of the former Pulliam Power Plant. C. Reiss will be able to lease the site for 60 years with lease payment increases based on the Consumer Price Index at various intervals.

The Brown County Board of Supervisors voted 25-0 for the agreement. The only supervisor who did not vote was Dixon Wolfe, who was excused from the special board meeting.

Next steps for coal piles

The coal currently sits on property in downtown Green Bay that studies have shown could create 150 million dollars in development. Now that an agreement has been met, the real work to move the coal begins.

“This is going to take a number of years. This is not gonna happen overnight. And no, they are not going to pick up the coal from right here and then put it on a truck and move it down to the mouth,” Streckenbach said. “There will be a process that makes sense, and it’ll take the approach that is in the best interest of the community and, of course, C. Reiss.

Genrich said the city would definitely be a part of that work. 

“I think we’re gonna have some discussions with our city council as well. We are a supporter of this agreement, not just rhetorically, but also financially,” Genrich said. “So I think we’re gonna have some very good discussions with our city council shortly here.”