PHOTO: Courtesy of WLUK
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — The deadline to finalize an agreement to move the downtown Green Bay coal piles has been extended.
Friday was the day the state provided to get a deal done or it would rescind a $15 million grant to move the piles, which have sat along the Fox River for more than 100 years.
That deadline has now been extended until 5 p.m. Tuesday “due to the progress” that has been made between Brown County and C. Reiss, the owner of the coal piles.
A statement from Brown County reads:
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.
The Wisconsin Department of Administration says site agreement framework must be approved by the Brown County Board of Supervisors no later than June 6. They also sent a statement:
As of 6pm on Friday, May 30, we have received and reviewed an official extension request from Brown County. Significant positive progress has been made in this effort, and we remain optimistic that the parties involved will come to an agreement. To that end, we are granting an extension until 5pm on Tuesday, June 3 for the site agreement framework, with approval by the county board no later than June 6. Our goal is to ensure that the coal piles can be moved, and the full grant can be utilized as intended.
Brown County Supervisor Pat Evans says a deal is close.
“It’s my understanding we’re very close to a deal,” said Evans. “We’re not there yet. The parties were going to meet on Saturday, but then they all decided to take a breather and meet on Monday morning.”
Last week, State Sen. Eric Wimberger, R-Oconto, sent a letter to Wisconsin Department of Administration Secretary-designee Kathy Blumenfeld asking for an extension on the grant.
Brown County and C. Reiss have been focused on negotiating two proposals.
One is to lease the former Pulliam Power Plant site, and the other is to lease about 13 acres of county-owned land next to the Fox River Terminals, which is owned by C. Reiss’ parent company.
Studies have shown the current land the Green Bay coal piles sit on could garner about $150 million in new development.
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