City Park improvements, splash pad bids come in under estimate

Revamping of Superior’s City Park and installation of a splash pad is moving forward. Members of the Superior City Council on Monday evening approved contracts with a total cost of more than $429,000 for the work. Of this amount, city tax money will pay 20 percent and a state approved grant the remaining 80 percent. The grant was for $500,000 so it appears the project will be completed at less cost than originally anticipated.

The local match will be funded for 1.5 percent city sales tax.

The work is scheduled to be completed by the fall of 2025 and must be according to the terms of the grant.

The biggest addition will be an AquaSmart E splash pad provided by Outdoor Recreation Products at a cost of $124,990.51.

Outdoor Recreation will provide an Americana Navajo permanent shade for $15,200 and SkyWay Cantilever seasonal shades for $44,799.96.

Saathoff Construction will provide the plan’s hard surfacing component for $219,984.

A street improvement contract was also awarded Monday evening to the Figgins Construction Company of Red Cloud. This year Random Road and a portion of Louden Street are the primary targets along with the finishing of work started last year on Fifteenth Street.

Last year Fifteenth Street was resurfaced from Idaho Street west to California Street. This year it will be resurfaced from California to North Park. Nuckolls County will share in the cost as a portion of the street is outside of the city limits. Four blocks of Louden Street will be resurfaced from Third north to Eighth. While that is a four block stretch the street between Sixth and Seventh has been paved with concrete and will not be surfaced. The work has a price tag of $40,241.85.

With the final Project Boom house sold (the container home located on Park Street) the council voted to close the project. Once the closure is approved by the state, the city will have approximately $350,000 which may be used for additional housing projects within the next five years. Currently under consideration is the construction of more ranch style homes. However, there are income standards the buyers must meet during those five years.

The council approved two appointments made by Mayor Chris Pedersen. Logan Christiancy was appointed to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Floyd Rothfuss from the planning commission. Troy Scott will fill the vacancy on the economic review committee created by the resignation of Chris Flaata.

As part of the meeting, Andrew Brittenham, reviewed how the community’s sanitary sewer system functions.

The first sewer mains were installed in the downtown area in 1914. There was a major expansion into the residential areas during the 1930s.

In the early years, the untreated sewage was dumped into the mill race and eventually flowed into the Republican River. In 1956, the first sewage treatment plant was put into operation. It has been modified and expanded since then.

In 2006, the city started slip lining the sewer mains. It is expected that work will be completed in 2026. The process lines the existing pipe which may be clay, cast iron or concrete with a melted plastic to not only preserve the life of the pipe but also make it easier to for the sewage to flow though the pipe.

As part of the ongoing maintenance schedule, all mains are regularly flushed and cleaned to remove sediment and things like tree roots.

An ordinance change was presented at the request of a council member to lengthen the number of days fireworks may be sold within the city. A motion was passed on a 4 to 1 vote to not consider the request at this time. It was noted the regulations governing 2024 sales had been published and a change in the ordinance would not take affect until after the 2024 season has passed. Voting in favor of the motion to not consider were council members Rick Disney, Steve Gunn, Darrell Brandt and Carrie Lemke. James Flores voted against the motion. When the motion was discussed it was noted by delaying action, the council would have more time to consider the ramifications and since it would not apply to the current season, there was no need to proceed hastily.

Following the retirement of Larry Sibert as gas department foreman, Jared Ehlers, a 14-year employee of the department, was named foreman and the alternate representative to the National Public Gas Agency Board of Directors.

It was decided to take bids on sealing and repairing the former Pizza Hut building on North Idaho street and also demolishing structure. When the costs are determined the council will decided whether to raze or repair the building. A city agency recently took title to the property and will now offer the property for sale.