Suamico approves cooperative agreement with Tri‑County Recycling to keep DNR grant eligibility

The Village of Suamico Village Board on Sept. 15 approved Resolution 25018 authorizing a cooperative agreement with Tri‑County Recycling so the village can meet a Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources requirement and remain eligible for the 2026 recycling consolidation grant.

Public Works staff explained the DNR requires responsible units to enter cooperative agreements with other responsible units for joint provision of at least one element of an effective recycling program; because Brown County is not the responsible unit for some services, the agreement among municipalities and county partners is necessary for eligibility. The director said the agreement is effectively the same as the prior year, with a different resolution number.

On operational questions, staff said the village’s recycling work is largely educational: brochures and website links to Brown County resources. The county provides tonnage and material breakdowns from haulers and the MRF; village staff use that data for the DNR application in the fall and the report the following spring. The director said, “For the recycling grant that we get, I think we get, like, $2,224,000 a year on average or so,” and characterized the village’s participation as beneficial, though trustees asked about direct compensation from the county for staff time and county‑mandated reporting. Staff responded the county does not reimburse the village for those reporting hours.

Trustee Romas raised the broader question of return on investment for county‑mandated tasks performed by village staff. After discussion, Trustee Brolness seconded the motion; the board approved Resolution 25018 by roll call vote. The roll call recorded ayes from all six members present and the motion passed unanimously.