Ashwaubenon works to educate residents on Large Item Collection process

ASHWAUBENON – Over the past year, various changes have been made to Ashwaubenon's large item collection process by the public works department to try and educate residents to self-report their need for pick-up.

Of the 425 residents with self-reported large items, 70 of them didn’t have items out to be picked up.

There were also 478 instances of residents who had items out that were not reported, as well as 12 residents with items out that were not approved.

Director of Public Works Brian Rickert strongly encourages Ashwaubenon residents to utilize Geographical Information System (GIS) Applications.

GIS apps are used to notify city employees of large items and can be found under the “Apps & Maps” section of the Ashwaubenon city website: ashwaubenon.gov/government/departments/gis-mapping/apps-maps.

All other information in regards to the Large Item Collection may be found here at ashwaubenon.gov/government/departments/public-works-streets/large-item-collection.

“There is also a featured post on our Facebook page that has an easy 123 step system that will help in educating the residents,” said Rickert via email.

Public Works employees have been putting in efforts to tag large items that have not been registered, however Rickert admitted that this process is extremely time consuming, as well as entirely avoidable.

Many members of the village board appeared to have even less patience on the matter, as board member Gary Paul suggested that Rickert and Public Works stop tagging and disposing of non-registered large items.

Ashwaubenon Board Member Jay Krueger agreed with Paul’s sentiment, however he noted that continuing to tag items and attempt to educate Ashwaubenon residents for the time being would be worth the effort.

The village board and public works strongly urge Ashwaubenon residents to check their large item pick-up registration status before disposing of any items that fit the criteria.

Village staff recognized

Earlier in the meeting, Ashwaubenon Village Board President Mary Kardoskee awarded five village employees with a plaque to honor them for their work completed to organize the proceedings of the 2025 NFL Draft.

Joel Gregozeski (village manager of Ashwaubenon), Brian Rickert (director of public works), Thomas Rolling (interim chief of public safety), Nicholas Kozloski (deputy chief) and Tom Baxter (commander of police/EMS operations) were presented with the plaque that Kardoskee announced “will forever hang in Village Hall.”

“Safety was the No. 1 (priority) when the draft was announced,” said board member Gary Paul, noting the minimal amount of incidents that occurred during the draft.

Kardoskee continued to commend the five village employees, as well as many others.

“It was everybody. It was all employees in the village,” said President Kardoskee.

Other items

All of the following action items were unanimously approved by the Village Board.

• A new park to be built on Element Way is to be named after former Senator Jerome Van Sistine. Ashwaubenon Village Board Member Tracy Flucke said that an Ashwaubenon resident had reached out to her in recommendation of naming the new park after Van Sistine, and that the Van Sistine family is thrilled about the recognition. Construction of Jerome Van Sistine Park is to begin in July of this year.
• The village board accepted a $50,000 grant from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) through the Vibrant Spaces Grant Program. The grant is given to promote community-based activities for residents and increased foot traffic for nearby enhancements.
• The board approved the increase of EMS service prices “in an attempt to have rates stay comparable with surrounding agencies,” starting July 1, 2025, said Public Safety. The rates are to be raised again on Jan. 1, 2026.
• Reconstruction of the concrete sidewalk on the north side of Cormier Road from S. Ridge Road west to Shady Lane, which will update the walkway to be ADA compliant, will be completed with two pre-qualified contractors Al Dix Concrete Inc. and Martell Construction.