More Statements on Coal Piles Drama

GREEN BAY, WI- (WGBW) – More in the ongoing back and forth between the City of Green Bay, Brown County, the Brown County Board of Supervisors, and C. Reiss about moving the coal piles, owned by C. Reiss from prime waterfront real estate in downtown Green Bay to the former Pulliam Power Plant site. 

Wednesday, the Brown County Board of Supervisors turned down a second offer by C. Reiss to purchase the Pulliam Site, prompting this response from C. Reiss on Thursday (March 27, 2025)

“Earlier this week, the state agency (Wisconsin Department of Administration) in charge of the $15 million grant to move the coal piles publicly stated that all parties need to ‘sit in a room and come to an agreement.’ C. Reiss completely agrees, and we’ve now accepted an invitation to meet with Brown County and the City of Green Bay to negotiate an agreement on moving the coal piles to the old Pulliam Power Plant site,” C. Reiss said.

Brown County Executive Troy Streckenbach and the Brown County Board of Supervisors Chair, Patrick Buckley, issued their own statement on Thursday.

“Last Wednesday, the Brown County Board of Supervisors formally rejected the C. Reiss counteroffer to control the entire 37.5-acre Pulliam site for 100 years. The County remains interested in working with the City of Green Bay in helping to relocate the coal piles,” the statement read. “Along those lines, the City (through its Mayor) and the County (through its Executive and Board Chair) met last Friday to discuss how to best move forward. The City and County agreed at that meeting that the Alternate Site should be discussed further. A meeting date has not yet been finalized, but the County looks forward to the City finding a date in the coming weeks that is amenable to all three parties.”

Other coal piles statements

The Shipyard District has also addressed the issue in an open letter to the board, encouraging them to reopen negotiations and reach a deal. Additionally, the Wisconsin Department of Administration is holding a $15 million grant for the development of the area, which it says will not be released until a deal is made.

Amidst all the discussions, a rare joint statement by Green Bay Mayor Eric Genrich, former Green Bay Mayors Paul Jadin and Jim Schmitt, and City Council President Brian Johnson was released. 

“Recognizing the existing window of opportunity is closing quickly, we urge Brown County leaders to seize the moment and work collaboratively with C. Reiss toward a sound and equitable agreement that uses the allocated grant funds for their intended purpose in a way that brings the relocation project to fruition,” they said in a statement.

The coal piles have occupied the riverfront property for 125 years. Multiple studies have shown that if the coal is moved to another location, the land could be home to $150 million in new development.