Superior has new mayor

The City of Superior has a new mayor. Last Tuesday following the resignation of Mayor Chris Peterson, Carrie Lemke automatically advanced from council president to mayor. Lemke is a longtime member of the council representing the community's first ward.

Peterson is currently employed in another community and has found it difficult to meet all the obligations of his job and those of mayor. He earlier resigned from the Superior Fire Department.

When submitting his resignation, he expressed his thanks to the people of Superior for allowing him to represent them for more than 12 years as a member of the city council and mayor. He had served approximately half of the mayor's four-year term. The mayor's position will not appear on a ballot until 2026.

Rick Disney, a multi-term member of the council was selected to serve as council president. As council president, he will act as mayor in the absence of the mayor.

In other action Tuesday evening, the council followed the recommendations of the planning commission, waived the three-reading rule and adopted to ordinances.

One of the ordinances cleared the way for the sale of a city owned lot that was once part of the Champlin Refining Company land holding at the east edge of Superior. With a potential buyer in the wings, the council changed the zoning from heavy industry to medium density residential. The property in question was never used by the petroleum tank farm and adjoins property currently zoned medium density residential.

Later in the meeting, the sale of the approximately two-acre lot to Mr. and Mrs. Wilbur Young was approved. Sale price was $4,000. The Youngs have assured the council they do not find it objectionable to build near an area zoned for heavy industry. They have plans to build a house and large storage building on the property.

The council also approved the sale of an additional 11 acres from the former tank farm property to Giza Real Estate. The Iowa based company previously bought tank farm lot for the proposed location of a towing company. The company has stated it has plans to attract another commercial tenant. Sale price was $25,000.

The council adopted an ordinance reducing from 750 square feet to 500 square feet the minimum size of house built within the zoning district. In recent years there has been an increased interest in constructing smaller houses.

Permission has recently been received to reuse grant funds that were used to construct the first Project Boom houses. Those houses have all been sold. Current plans call for the possible construction of two ranch-style houses on city owned land west of the lot formerly occupied by the Jack & Jill store. The new construction proposal calls for a three-bedroom, two-bath house and a two-bedroom, two bath house. Both would have attached single-car garages.

Two recent police department hires, Kassie Geiger and Jonatehan Spangler successfully completed their six-month probation periods.

The sale of the former Pizza Hut and the adjoining lot to the north was sold to LNS Property, the current owners of the Hilltop Car Wash. LNS indicated a desire to expand the car wash facility. Sale price was $11,500.

This was the third time the city attempted to secure a buyer for the property.

At the last October meeting of the council Brenda Corman was selected as the next city clerk. As she is not permitted to serve as clerk and as a member of the planning commission and park board, her resignations from the latter two positions was accepted. Likewise Mayor Lemke's resignation from the housing authority was accepted. Rick Disney will take her place on the housing authority.

Angela Henderson was appointed to fill Corman's position on the planning commission. Courtney Utecht was appointed to fill the vacant position on the parks and cemetery board.

It was report materials are being received and stored on city property for the construction in 2025 of a splash pad and shelter house in City Park. Another large shipment of materials for the park project is expect in the next couple of months.

Directors associated with the Superior Public Library are considering the installation of a book walk in City Park. As proposed the book walk would have about 20 stations displaying pages from an early childhood book. Park visitors would walk from station to station and read the pages. The goal of the book walk would be to promote reading.