City council approves transition loan

The Superior City Council meeting originally planned for last Monday was postponed because of the winter weather. It was held instead on Thursday evening.

Among the items of business to be considered was a loan request for $100,000 from the LB840 Fund (city sales tax) submitted by Trenton Morris. The loan with a 3 percent interest rate for a term of 10 years was approved as presented.

A Superior High School graduate and son Mr. and Mrs. T. J. Morris, he plans to use the loan approved Monday and another loan obtained from a local bank to purchase a 31 percent interest in the Superior Ace Hardware Store.

Morris was employed at the store as both a high school and college student. He expects to join the store staff in March and eventually buy out the interest of the current owners, Mr. and Mrs. Bob Trapp. The Trapps plan to retire.

The council also approved the purchase of four body cameras for the Superior Police Department. When received, the system will allow for video to be taken during day-to-day policing and allow for a greater amount of evidentiary material to be gathered in addition to providing context during officer involved situations and allow greater accountability to the public.

The purchase will use the balance of ARPA allotment from the federal government plus money from the department’s sinking fund. The equipment will cost $20,489.20,

In a related proposal, the council also approved replacing the department’s taser guns. The new tasers will cost $17,476.80 with the funds taken from the department’s sinking fund.

Both the cameras and the guns are being purchased from Axon Enterprises.

The council decided to move the city employees’ health insurance to a new policy. Renewal of the old policy would have meant an 18 percent hike in premium costs. The new policy is thought to provide equal or better coverage with a 4.6 percent premium increase.

An application from Dustin Monson to join the Superior Volunteer Fire Department was approved.

The council approved a plan submitted by the Superior Chamber of Commerce and the Superior Development Office to install an events sign in the Fourth Street Square Park. The sign enclosure will be built by Superior Industries. Mary Scroggins and Samantha Roesti will be responsible for keeping it current.

The resignation of Jim Peterson from the Board of Zoning Adjustment was accepted. Mayor Chris Peterson’s appointment of Nathan Baker to fill the remainder of Peterson’s term was approved.