City council decides to keep Superior Police Department

It appears Superior will continue to maintain a police department seperate from the Nuckolls County Sheriff’s Department. After consulting with Nuckolls County officials, the committee assigned to investigate the possibility of contracting for law enforcement services, the recommendation presented at the Superior City Council meeting Monday evening was to maintain a separate department but work closely with the sheriff’s department.

Mayor Chris Peterson said the city had received several applications since starting to advertise the open police department positions. Interviews are not scheduled to start until late August.

More new sidewalks are coming down the pike for the City of Superior.

Contracts were awarded for a three block extension of the recent sidewalk replacement program along the west side of Idaho running north from the Seventh Street intersection.

Saathoff Construction is to begin work in early September and have the job completed by Nov. 1. In addition to a new sidewalk, the work will include grading and reseeding.

The city has $72,434.68 left from the walkability grant used to fund last year’s sidewalk project. An additional $31,584.32 will be added from city sources to fund this year’s project. Saathoff Construction was the low bidder with a bit of $92,019. Engineering will add $12,000 to the cost.

The council took the first steps Monday evening to add a new program which will provide funding to promote energy efficiency improvements and renewable energy systems within Superior.

The council passed on first reading the enabling ordinance and scheduled a public hearing on the proposal.

The proposal will provide a financing tool enabling development of the Superior Clean Energy Assessment District (SCEAD) and the implementation of a PACE program in Superior.

The intent of the PACE program is to incentivize the reduction of energy, water and wastewater use as well as incentivize the use of renewable energy systems.

The program will serve commercial and industrial properties, including apartment houses with more than four dwelling units.

Approved projects may qualify for low interest loans obtained from commercial lenders which are then to be repaid with the money that would have been used for the purchase of utilities had the project not been completed.

The city will not be exposed to any financial risk. Any risk associated with the project will be assumed by the lenders and property owners.

The proposed program is similar to the TIFF program that is being used to finance several development projects within the communty.

In other action, the council approved advertising to fill a vacant lineman’s position in the electric department, Jonah Mattson accepted employement in Hastings and left the Superior department on July 5.