Coal Piles Deadline Extended

GREEN BAY, Wis (WGBW) – The State of Wisconsin extended the deadline for Brown County, the City of Green Bay, and C. Reiss to agree on where and how to move the coal piles sitting in prime waterfront real estate in the downtown Green Bay area.

The original deadline was Friday, May 30. While progress occurs in negotiations between the three entities, a decision had not been made. Without the extension, a $15 million state grant to help redevelop the area would be canceled.

Late Friday afternoon, Brown County Deputy Executive Jeffrey Flynt said the state had granted an extension.

“Due to the progress we are making in negotiations with C. Reiss, the State of Wisconsin has granted an extension of its deadline until Tuesday, June 3rd, at 5:00 p.m. for C. Reiss and Brown County to reach an agreement on leasing a portion of the former Pulliam Plant site,” Flynt wrote. “The County doesn’t anticipate making further comment until an agreement is reached.”

Studies have shown that moving the coal piles from the waterfront property could generate $150 million in new development.

About $30 million in funding has been secured for clean-up and redevelopment. However, the Wisconsin Department of Administration will withdraw a $15 million Neighborhood Investment Grant if an agreement is not reached.

Discussions have centered on relocating the piles from their current location on prime waterfront real estate in downtown Green Bay to the former Pulliam Power Plant Site. However, those discussions have stalled following rejections from Brown County.

The coal piles have been on the waterfront for 125 years.