The City of Oconto will not be participating in No Mow May in 2026.
We apologize for the frustration this causes residents who respect and participate responsibly in the program.
The last couple years we have tried to come up with solutions to the problems it creates for the City, such as individuals who abuse the program and individuals not participating but allowing their lawns to over grow anyway.
Lawns that consist solely of turfgrass provide little to no benefits for pollinators. If you want to help local pollinators, check out the Wisconsin DNR’s website for ideas: https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/endangeredresources/nativeplants, including Step-by-Step Native Landscaping Guide and 5 Steps to Planting a Pollinator Garden in Wisconsin.
Notice of Public Hearing on Zoning Ordinance Text Revisions in the City of Oconto, Oconto, Wisconsin
May 19, 2026
6:00 P.M. PUBLICNOTICE is hereby given to all persons in the City of Oconto that there will be a PUBLIC HEARING before the Oconto City Council in the Council Chambers, at City Hall, 1210 Main Street, Oconto, WI 54153, to solicit comments on proposed zoning ordinance text revisions. A copy of the proposed ordinance text revisions is available at Oconto City Hall, Monday through Friday between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. or HERE: DRAFT Ordinance No 2026-00 Revision to the Zoning – Home Occupation Sign Restrictions
An Ordinance Regarding Revisions to the Zoning Ordinance in the Municipal Code of Ordinances for the City of Oconto – Home Occupation Sign Restrictions
All persons interested are invited to attend this hearing and be heard. Written comments may be submitted to: City of Oconto, Attn: Brittney Burruel, 1210 Main St, Oconto, WI 54153
Plastic is everywhere. It’s useful, convenient and part of everyday life. However, the plastic we use today, if not properly recycled, could be around forever — at least 100 years or more.
If recycled properly, though, a plastic item you’re done using can live on to become something new and helpful to someone else.
But before we head to the recycle bin, let’s first talk about how we can reduce our plastic usage from the start.
Reduce Consumption
Recycling plastic is a great step toward reducing plastic pollution, but it can be hard to avoid using plastic in the first place. Small actions done by many people to reduce plastic usage can have a big impact. Here are a few ways to start.
Swap your single-use plastic sandwich and snack bags for reusable, washable storage containers.
Go the same route with water and coffee — use a reusable, refillable water bottle and travel coffee mug to cut down on one-time-use containers.
Reuse plastics such as beverage bottles, plastic bags and packaging when possible.
Share appreciation for events and locations that provide recycling opportunities for customers and participants.
Subscribe to Recycling Updates, the DNR’s free emailed newsletter dedicated to recycling.
Check The Rules
If a plastic item has that little triangle symbol with a number on it, you can recycle it anywhere, right? Unfortunately, this is not the case.
Each municipality in Wisconsin has distinct recycling rules regarding what it accepts, including plastics. Variations occur because the facilities municipalities rely on to sort and process recyclables have different equipment, locations and markets.
It’s important to know the rules for your community to ensure you’re doing the right thing.
Plastics are made from chemical resins, and various resins have different physical properties. In general, different resins cannot be mixed together to make new products.
To help keep resins separate, the plastics industry developed a standardized numerical resin code system. These codes, numbered 1 through 7 and usually imprinted with a triangular arrangement of arrows on the bottom of plastic containers, help consumers identify the plastic.
All recyclers in Wisconsin accept plastic with resin codes #1 and #2. These plastics comprise about 97% of all plastic bottles, according to the Association of Plastics Recyclers. Since there are strong and stable markets for these plastics, they are banned from landfill disposal in Wisconsin.
Plastics with resin codes #3 through #7 are generally harder to recycle into new products. Some municipalities may direct residents to keep some or all of these out of the recycling bin or cart. Some of these plastics, such as bags marked with resin codes #2 or #4, may have other recycling options.
This is why it’s important to know your municipality’s rules around plastics recycling.
So what about plastic bags and plastic wrap? You can recycle clean and dry plastic wrap and bags at many grocery stores and other retailers, usually in a bin near the entrance. Check with local stores to find out what they take before heading there.
A Lifetime Of Plastic
It can take between 100 and 1,000 years or more for plastic to decompose, depending on environmental conditions. When plastic does end up in the environment rather than getting recycled, it can break down into smaller pieces of plastic, becoming microplastics and infiltrating our ecosystems.
Plastic pollution can harm animals too, especially marine animals. Plastic bags, plastic bottles and even fishing line easily find their way into rivers, lakes and streams where animals may ingest them or get tangled in them.
Plastic pollution isn’t good for anyone, but it can be prevented.
Andi Sedlacek
Andi Sedlacek is communications director for the DNR.
This past severe snow storm caused large amounts of snow damage throughout the City of Oconto. Public Work crews will repair areas that were damaged as soon as possible, but it will take a few weeks with the large amount of rain these last few weeks. Please be patience with us as we try to get the repairs made in a timely manner!
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation!!
Notice of Public Hearing on Zoning Changes in the City of Oconto,
Oconto, Wisconsin
April 21, 2026
6:00 P.M. NOTICE is hereby given that there will be a PUBLIC HEARING before the Oconto City Council in the Council Chambers, at City Hall, 1210 Main Street, Oconto, WI 54153
The agenda of the public hearing will be as follows:
The City of Oconto Department of Public Works will begin its Spring curbside collection of leaves and garden waste on April 27th and ending May 22nd. This material should be placed at the curb in separate piles. Leaves should be in a row no more than 4 feet wide and approximately 3 feet high. Leaves should be placed in open areas and not around obstacles such as street signs or trees or will not be picked up. Bagged material or mixed material will not be picked up.
Do not put leaves into the street.Place the leaves between the curb and the sidewalk and as close to the curb as possible. Leaves placed on the street will not be picked up unless placed back in the area defined for proper pick-up. Brush cannot be mixed in with leaf piles.
Residents may also bring their loose leaves and garden waste to the City’s yard waste site, which is located at 1616 Main St.
It is not possible to accurately tell residents the exact day their leaves and garden waste will be picked up.
If you have any questions, call 834-7725 between 6:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Deadline for applications is April 30, 2026 by 4:00 pm
CITY OF OCONTO
JOB OPPORTUNITY
PUBLIC WORKS LABORER
$27.26/hour – with a CDL
$25.26/hour – without a CDL
The City of Oconto is accepting applications for a Public Works Laborer. Must have class B CDL or ability to obtain class B CDL within first 6 months of hire. Experience in heavy equipment operating is a plus.
Information about the job description, requirements, and application can be picked up at Oconto City Hall, 1210 Main St, Oconto, WI 54153 or found at cityofoconto.com/employment.
Deadline for submitting application is April 30th by 4:00 p.m.
NOTICE OF REFERENDUM OCONTO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
APRIL 7, 2026
Referendum Election Details
At an election to be held in the Oconto Unified School District on April 7, 2026, the following proposed Revenue Limit Resolution of the School Board will be submitted to a vote of the people:
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE SCHOOL DISTRICT BUDGET TO EXCEED REVENUE LIMIT BY $1,200,000 PER YEAR FOR FIVE YEARS
FOR NON-RECURRING PURPOSES
BE IT RESOLVED by the School Board of the Oconto Unified School District, Oconto County, Wisconsin that the revenues included in the School District budget be authorized to exceed the revenue limit specified in Section 121.91, Wisconsin Statutes, by $1,200,000 per year for five years, beginning with the 2026-2027 school year and ending with the 2030-2031 school year, for non-recurring purposes consisting of District operation and maintenance costs.
Ballot Text
The question will appear on the ballot as follows:
“Shall the Oconto Unified School District, Oconto County, Wisconsin, be authorized to exceed the revenue limit specified in Section 121.91, Wisconsin Statutes, by $1,200,000 per year for five years, beginning with the 2026-2027 school year and ending with the 2030-2031 school year, for non-recurring purposes consisting of District operation and maintenance costs?”
Explanation
The referendum election ballot will ask District electors to vote “yes” or “no” on the referendum election question as set forth above.
A “yes” vote on the question is a vote to authorize the Oconto Unified School District budget to exceed the revenue limit specified in Section 121.91, Wisconsin Statutes, by $1,200,000 per year for five years, beginning with the 2026-2027 school year and ending with the 2030-2031 school year, for non-recurring purposes consisting of District operation and maintenance costs.
A “no” vote on the question is a vote to deny the Oconto Unified School District the authority to exceed the revenue limit specified in Section 121.91, Wisconsin Statutes, by $1,200,000 per year
for five years, beginning with the 2026-2027 school year and ending with the 2030-2031 school year, for non-recurring purposes consisting of District operation and maintenance costs.
In the event a majority of the electors voting on the question vote “yes”, the District will be authorized to exceed the revenue limit specified in Section 121.91, Wisconsin Statutes, by
$1,200,000 per year for five years, beginning with the 2026-2027 school year and ending with the 2030-2031 school year, for non-recurring purposes consisting of District operation and maintenance costs; if a majority vote “no” on the question set forth above, the District will not be so authorized.
