The Superior Express -

As their regular Monday meeting night fell on a federal holiday, the Superior city council met last Wednesday night in the city administration building.

Without public discussion, the council approved a plan to sell five lots in the Kottmeyer Business Park. If the development goes as planned, Lannin Zoltenko plans to utilize the land for a computer-based data storage farm.

The city retained Lot 1 for possible use as an electrical system substation. The city utility department currently has electrical substations near the Second and Commercial street intersection and near Fourteenth and Washington street intersection. If the data storage farm grows to utilize the anticipated amount of electrical energy, a third substation will be needed.

According to the plan, Zoltenko will purchase Lot 2 and have the first right to purchase Lots 3 through 6 should more space be needed for future expansion.

In a related matter, his request submitted to the planning commission for permission to locate a small data center on land he owns near the intersection of Conn and Bloom streets has been denied. That location was zoned for light industry but a data center required an exceptional use permit which was not approved after residents in the area protested the noise associated with the center’s cooling fans. It now appears the small center will be located in the Kottmeyer Business Park.

According to Zoltenko, there is an opportunity to locate such centers in the United States. Previously most of the centers were located in China. However, the centers have fallen out of favor with the Chinese and customers are looking for such services in other countries.

In a related matter, the utility department has placed a public notice request in this newspaper asking engineering firms interested in doing an electrical circuit study to submit proposals. The study will focus on the area known to the utility department as the East Industrial Circuit and its 34.5KVA sub-transmission line.

The council authorized the water department to proceed with hydrogrouting water well number nine.

The department has been considering various options for adding capacity, The demand for water has declined since the cheese plant closed and so has the city’s water supply. Of the nine wells installed between 1971 and 1973, five are in continuous operation with one in permanent standby. The remaining three wells have been disconnected and are not in use. The capacity of the well field has declined.

Options include developing a new well field, the installation of a water treatment facility that would allow the three disconnected wells to be returned to service and a new process known as hydrogrouting.

The grouting would seal the annular space around the well casing. By sealing this space, the individual water bearing formations are separated and surface water infiltration is stopped.

Weeping Water was one of the first Nebraska communities to test the process. There the overall nitrate concentrate was cut by more than half.

It was decided to test the process on one existing Superior well. The test will cost approximately $27,000. If the results are favorable, a similar process may be used on the other wells. The well currently connected to the system but not regularly used will be the one tested.

Permission was given to the Superior Middle School to hold an activity in Lincoln Park on Friday, Oct. 29, between 2 and 4 p.m. While that activity is underway, Lincoln Park Road will be closed from Wildcat Drive to the west campground.

The council also approved closing the park on Saturday, Oct. 30, to allow for the set up of the Candy Cane Lane decorations. The Candy Cane committee has already began moving materials into the park.

The street is now stockpiling dirt that will be used in a park drive project. The project goal is to improve drainage in the west part of Lincoln Park.