Superior City Council
Jan Diehl, city clerk, looks on as Rachel Loucks takes the oath of office as the new member of the Superior Council last Tuesday. She will represent Beaver 1. Loucks fills the vacancy created when Chris Peterson became mayor upon Sonia Schmidt's resignation in 2020.
The third time was the charm. After postponing two previous Superior City Council meetings because of a lack of a quorum (thank you, COVID-19), the make-up meeting was held in two parts. Last Monday night the board held a public hearing for three ordinances related to zoning requests and an annexation issue.
Tuesday, The first item of business was the appointment of Rachel Loucks to serve as council member for Beaver1. When Sonia Schmidt resigned as mayor, Chris Peterson, who represented Beaver 1, was elevated to the mayoralty. A replacement was needed to serve out the remainder of his term. After a search lasting more than a year, Loucks accepted a request to serve out the term. Jan Diehl, city clerk, administered the oath of office as Loucks was sworn in. She was immediately put to work.
The council had a logjam of items on the agenda. The council approved the consent agenda, consisting of November city and utility claims, the October city treasurer's and utilities treasurer's reports as well as the minutes from the previous meeting.
Andrew Brittenham, city utilities manager, presented the council with several action items. He requested approval for an order of 180 residential gas meters. The item was budgeted at $25,000 and the price is $22,500.
Van Kirk Brothers Contracting, asked for an extension on the effluent pump project at the wastewater treatment plant. A critical item needed for the project is caught up in the supply chain issue plaguing the country.The plug valves are crucial to the project. They were ordered a few months ago and now have a tentative shipping date of February, 2022.
The council approved the meter purchase and an extension for the pump project.
Two feasibility studies were ordered regarding the power supply need for a new occupant at the Superior's Kottemeyer Industrial Park. A Canadian data mining company is interested in constructing a facility at the site. The project would require a large increase in the amount of electricity used at the park. The council approved the funding of both studies. Another study was approved for the electrical study. JEO Consulting Group was awarded the $12,500 contract.
Two bids were received for the clarifier coating project at the wastewater treatment plant. The coating project in 2021 was priced at $35,000. The low bid for this project was $57,500 from Maguire Iron. Material and labor costs were the driving factors behind the price increase. The council approved the bid.
The council then moved to the city section of business.
The first item of business was the property located at 604 East 5th Street. The property was purchased by Bradley Upton. He has been working to clear the property and make needed repairs. The council approved an extension to June 30, 2022, to complete the remediation of the property.
A request for a building permit to construct a garage at 545 East 4th Street was denied until the property is in compliance with existing city ordinances.
Camie Kroeger was reinstated as an EMT.
Deb Hansen presented the council with an overview and timetable for the proposed Montana Meadows housing development. The project will consist of three houses to be constructed in 2022 and two in 2023. Several steps have to be completed before construction can commence in spring of 2022.
Brittenham presented the council with the 1 and 6 year street plan. This was an informational item. The council will approve or deny at the next meeting.
The council approved several claims for appliances and building materials related to the Project BOOM houses being constructed on West 8th Street and East 3rd Street.
The council was advised by the BNSF Railway that the replacement of the crossing on Bloom Street was to be completed. The next crossing to replaced will be Central Avenue. The Hartley Street crossing is scheduled to be replaced in the spring.
The Superior Municipal Swimming Pool will have new on-demand hot water heaters installed at the bathhouse. It was recommended new exhaust fans be installed in the bathhouse and pumphouse. City workers will remove sections of the pool deck at the southwest corner of the pool to determine why water is leaking.
The council approved a motion to purchase Chamber Bucks as a thank you to Superior Public School students who have done video work for a promotional video for the Chamber of Commerce. The amount of $50 for each of the 13 students was approved.
Jill Allgood, City of Superior police chief, asked the council to approve a resolution regarding the duty to intervene in an excessive force event. This requires law enforcement officers to intervene if they observe another law enforcement official using excessive force.
The council approved a bid of $103,000 from Saathoff Construction for the demolition of 11 blighted properties in Superior. Asbestos abatement work is required on six of the properties.
The council had the first reading of an ordinance which would accept and approve the boundaries of Saathoff 2nd Subdivision. This will, be the site of the Montana Meadows development. Some land will also be annexed into the city.
The board waived the three reading requirement for two zoning related ordinances. The ordinances were approved and are printed in this issue of The Express.
The council entered into a closed session at 9:10 p.m. for a presentation from Brittenham about Long Term Power Grid Modification. The closed session ended at 9:56 p.m.
The council waived holding a meeting on Dec. 27.
Brittenham submitted two travel requests for utility related meetings.
The meeting was adjourned after committee reports were presented and accepted.
The next meeting will be at 7:30 p.m., Dec. 13.
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