Superior no longer supporting Sixth Street walking route

Superior’s Sixth Street walking lane connecting the schools and the community’s two largest parks is no more.

The six members of the Superior City Council Monday evening voted unanimously to stop maintaining the walking path that was instigated in 2014.  The city has been spending about $1,000 a year to maintain the walking lane marked along the south side of Sixth Street.

The lane has never been as popular as the promoters hoped and with the new sidewalk along the south side of Eighth Street, it appears a majority of people that were using the Sixth Street lane, including the Walking School Bus, are now using the new Eighth Street sidewalk. That route is separated from the driving lanes, is six-feet wide and has handicapped curb ramps.

Signs designating the Sixth Street route will be removed and parking returned to the south side of the street.

It was noted the new Eighth Street route is safer because the walkers are more distanced from the automobile traffic. On the Sixth Street route, all that divided the walkers and motor vehicle traffic was a painted line.

In other action Monday, members of the council reviewed suggested one and six-year street improvement plans.

A public hearing on the plans will be held as part of the Nov. 28 council meeting.

The biggest project for the coming construction season will probably be the extension of a storm sewer from Bloom Street west to Dakota Street along with the replacement of the concrete driving lanes.

With the heavier truck traffic using the street to access the Casey’s store, the existing street is deteriorating rapidly.

The long range plan proposes continuing to extend the storm sewer as the street is rebuilt to the west.

Other possible projects for the coming year include the asphalt surfacing of Fifteenth from Commercial to Dakota and Kansas Street from Fifteenth to Fourteenth.

The removal and replacement of the existing pavement on Fourteenth Street from Commercial to Kansas.

Armor coating of Montana Street from Thirteenth to Fifteenth streets.

Replacement of  the Second Street and Central Avenue intersection.

Armor coating of Louden from Fourth to Fifth. Armor coating of Guthrie between Fourth and Sixth streets. Armor coating Louden Street between Seventh and Eighth. 

Replacement of Thirteenth street between Dakota and Kansas. Replacement of the west half of the Fourteenth and Commercial intersection.

Asphalt paving of Fifteenth Street between Idaho and California and armor coating Fifteenth Street from California Street to the Lost Creek bridge.

Armor coating Eight Street from Idaho to Bloom. Armor coating Guthrie from Fourth to Sixth, Armor coating Marvin between Fourth and Fifth streets.

Armor coating Louden between Third and Fourth.

Remove and replace pavement on Sixth Street between Bloom and Dakota streets. Remove and replace the alley pavement between Kansas and Commercial for one block south of Fifth Street. Remove and replace Random Road pavement.

Pave with asphalt the alley bounded by Second and Third streets and Central and Commercial avenues.

At this time, these projects are in the consideration stage. Plans will become more final after the public hearing is held on Nov. 28, but even projects that make the list are not certain as funding and materials must be secured, the work coordinated with other involved agencies like the state department of roads and the weather.

The council approved the recommendation of the REDLG Loan Committee and agreed to loan $15,000 from the REDLG fund to Five Blessings L.L.C. The money is to be used for additional inventory and new equipment.

It was reported Jana Marr, the current park board secretary, plans step down when her term expires at the end of 2022. This is her 15th year on the park board.

The council continues to pursue the possible replacement of a city ambulance. The ambulance squad is currently operating one unit built in the 1980s and a newer unit that is about 20 years old. The city has applied for state grants to assist with funding the purchase.

After requesting proposals earlier this fall, the city received seven responses. The EMT squad is now reviewing those proposals and will select for further consideration the top three units that are expected to meet their needs

Prices range from a low of $286,713 to a high of $335,569.41.