The Superior Express -

In most cases public hearings must be held to receive citizen comments before the City of Superior can apply for a state or federal grant. Generally, the hearings are brief. Often times a member of the public is not present to either speak for or against the grant request. That wasn’t the case Monday night.

The hearing to consider a park development grant application brought forth both supporters and opponents. The hearing lasted about 35 minutes.

After it concluded, the council voted unanimously to submit the grant request with some revision.

Liz Ginther was the first to speak in opposition to the submission of the grant application.

She began by questioning how the public had been informed about the supposedly public meetings held as part of the plan development.

She noted many of the meeting times and locations were announced via a Facebook social media page. She said the notices failed to reach the people who use the parks.

To summarize her testimony, it was Ginther’s position the money proposed for park improvements would be better spent repairing and maintaining the current swimming pool.

She said the current pool needs a new bath house roof, the bathroom and deck faucets need replumbing, solar heating would provide for longer seasons, a new automatic vacuum to clean the pool floor would improve water clarity and reduce staff time required for vacuuming. Canvas or bench structures would provide shade and reduce the pool debris caused by shade trees. She questioned the safety and expenses associated with an unattended splash pad. Others noted the health problems a splash pad could cause.

Rather than adding new, Ginther advocated the council maintain what the city already had. The addition of a splash pad would increase operating costs with no increase in revenue.

Brenda Corman, the current park board president, voiced support for the splash pad proposal and said the pad would be a valuable addition to the community.

Kara Smith, a member of the park board, reported having visited several splash pads and described them as being user friendly. She explained the pads would be controlled by a timer and thus the water would be running only when the pad was in use. She countered the health concerns raised by others in audience by saying the water would be used only once and not recirculated. She said the splash pad would not replace the pool but it would serve all ages and be open at times when the pool was closed.

Bev Czirr asked if the water used by the splash pad could be used to water the park.

If the grant is received, the city will be expected to contribute a $100,000 match. That match will come from the sales tax fund.

Sam Clark, a member of the city staff, noted there were restraints on what the sales tax money designated for the park improvements could be used for. That will also be true of the grant funds being requested. The money can be used for new projects but not for the maintenance of prior projects.

Derek Clark, also a city staff member, said a 2019 community needs assessment survey prioritized what the residents wanted and this grant request will address three of the top four identified needs.

Projects included in the grant request include construction of a splash pad to be located south of the current veterans’ statue, relocation of the shelter house to near the east edge of current concrete slab in front of the band shell. It is thought the relocation would enhance the use of the band shell. Construction of full-size basketball court in the area now occupied by the band shell. The fourth project would be the completion of a sidewalk loop around City Park.

After the public hearing was closed at 8:06, the council turned to routine business.

Andrew Brittenham, city utilities manager, reported one of the three high service pumps used to move water from the well field to the water tower is currently out of service. The council approved spending $15,000 to have the pump rebuilt.

As part of the planned highway improvement work scheduled within Superior this year by the Nebraska Department of Transportation, it will be necessary to relocate a portion of the 10-inch water main and related equipment which supplies water to the Village of Hardy. While the main is being relocated, Hardy will be without water for one to two hours and a boil water order will be issued for that community.

While the state will pay for the relocation of the water main, the City of Superior will be responsible for having the work done. Monday evening the council authorized Brittenham to seek bids for the work.

The 365 feet of main to be relocated is east of Canal Street.

The council tabled indefinitely the consideration of the ordinance that would have added trash collection fees to city utility bills. Until additional action is taken, the collection of the fees will remain the responsibility of the trash hauler.

Mary Scroggins, economic development director, submitted a request asking the city to purchase two of three vacant lots between Superior Spirits and the Flatwater Bar & Grill. The purchase price was to be $1,500 per lot. In addition she proposed the city loan $5,000 to the owner of Flatwater to assist with the installation of a grill and hood. The lots are currently part of the Flatwater property.

She explained the prior business owners had long had a grill located along a common wall on the north side of the establishment. A new grill and hood has been purchased, however, state regulators will not approve the previous location because of the common wall. If installed, the grill and hood must be on the south wall.

Scroggins proposed the loan be forgiven at the rate of $1,000 for each year the business continued in operation.

Before proceeding with the request, members of the council wanted more information on the potential use of the vacant lots and the development of a policy that might make such loans available to other businesses.

The council approved the addition of Ben Furman, Tyler Marr, Steph Corman and Sherice Frasier to the emergency medical squad. All four have completed the required schooling and been licensed by the state. With the four additions, the squad now has 18 members.