Superior council backs economic development

Developments were the main topics of discussion when the Superior City Council met Monday evening. There were reports on prior developments, reports on progress of developments underway and action on developments just beginning.

It appears a fitness center will be returning to Superior's main street later this year.

The Superior City Council approved a $65,000 loan from the REDLG fund for the purchase and relocation of the Total Fitness Center which closed July 1. The center was established on main street by Linda Ayers and has since had three owners, Shannon McCord and a partnership between Barry and Jamie Blackstone. It is being sold to Matt and Jessie Edwards who plan to relocate the equipment and reopen the business when the Lost & Found Shop moves up the street to the former Dollar General Building.

Jamie Blackstone told the council the business has paid for the remodelling of its recent East Fourth Street location and shown a profit every year they have owned it. However, the partners' other business interests are taking time they should be devoting to the business and Total Fitness is now closed.

Jessi Edwards currently has a history of making payments on time or before due on a REDLG loan she received from the city for her Revive Massage Parlor which is located in the same building they propose to locate the fitness center in. New flooring and other minor remodeling along the with the purchase of some new equipment is planned for the fitness center.

Council members James Flores, Darrel Brandt, Sandra Foot and Rick Disney voted to approve the loan. Levi Gunn has a REDLG loan associated with his insurance office, abstained. Carrie Lemke was absent.

The REDLG fund was created through a federal loan program in which money received for other projects was given to the city as it was repaid.

The council also approved the sale of Lots 7, 8 and 9 in the Kottmeyer Business Park to Highway Heavy Repair for $1,500 per acre. The lots are each approximately 1.5 acres in size. The Minnesota based company expects to employ one or two people with possible expansion.

Highway Heavy Repair is currently the contractor repairing four Highway 14 bridges between Superior and the stateline.

It was reported the city has now obtained title to the former Flatwater Bar and Grill property. Permission was given Mary Scroggins, the development office director, to sell the food and beverage contents and prepare the property for possible sale.

Permission was given to use up to $8,000 from the Mullet Fund to replace approximately 40 historic tour signs located in Superior. Beverly Beavers, a member of a group promoting tourism, reported most of the wooden signs placed about 30 years ago are in need of replacement. Jeff Guilkey has designed a new sign which will utilize the existing plaques. If the information on the plaques has changed, Superior Publishing will do the lettering. Beverly Beavers will be contacting existing sign owners to schedule the replacement.

The Mullet Fund was created by the late Albert Mullet and proceeds may be used for cultural projects. It has a history of earning between $9,000 and $14,000 per year,

The council renewed for three years an agreement between the city's electrical department and the Superior Chamber of Commerce. For the past nine years, the electric utility has contributed $16,000 per year to the chamber. That contribution is increasing to $24,000. While the amount of the contribution has changed over the years, the utility has a history of more than 60 years of helping to fund the operation of the chamber office rather than employing a development officer as many utilities do.

On behalf of Glenwood Telecommunications, Alison Fritsche submitted the company's annual operating report. While there are grants now available to bring high speed internet service to underserved communities, Fritsche said Glenwood financed the Superior fiber to the home system without grant assistance. The company purchased the Superior cable television system in 2009 and added the fiber network in 2018. She said Superior was a first for the company as it expanded outside of its traditional service area.

The council approved on first reading an ordinance amendment which will possibly allow the use of golf carts on city streets with some restrictions. As currently written, golf carts may not be driven on city streets. The revision would allow golf carts subject to the same regulations as all-terrain vehicles. Those regulations stipulate sizes, the need for a licensed driver, insurance and warning flags.

Acting on a report from the health board, the council declared the property at 542 East Second to be unfit for human habitation and directed that utility service be stopped. While occupied, the house currently has a hole in the roof and sewage is leaking into the basement.

It was reported the current owners have been responsive and attempting to clean up the property, however, they thus far they have not completed all the needed work. While Monday night's action will prohibit them from living in the house, it does not forbid either repair or demolition of the property. It does not yet allow the city to step in and correct the problems. The owners may continue to make the needed repairs but can not live there until it meets health standards.

Andrew Brittenham reported unexpected problems has slowed work on the Highway 14 bridge over the Republican River. Resurfacing of Highway 14 from the stateline to Superior is expected to begin about Sept. 1.

He said the concrete removal was complete on the Fourth Street project and if the compaction tests planned for today (Thursday) were satisfactory forming of the project could begin on Friday with the goal of an August completion.

The ordinance creating a clean energy assessment district passed second reading. If passed on third reading, the district will allow for a private company to provide financing to property making improvements to reduce a building's energy use,

The council approved the Integrated Resource Plan required by the Western Area Power Administration. The 22-page plan is required if the city is to continue receiving electrical power from the main steam Missouri River dams. The city received the right to this power when it surrendered the water right on the Republican River which fed the hydroelectric power station on Mill Race Road.

As Superior's peak electrical power consumption is increasing (a new peak was reached this month), the plan is required.

The city power system has maintained a steady customer count of approximately 1,300 customers over the last 10 years with a slight uptick the past five years. The overall customer count is about 78 percent residential, 19 percent commercial, 1 percent industrial and 1 percent economic development. Approximately 21 percent of the purchased power is used by residential customers, 16 percent by commercial customers, 1 percent by irrigation customers, 16 percent by industrial customers and 46 percent by economic development customers. Generally the peak is reach in either July or August but last year the peak was reach in September.

In the last two years residential use has increased 2 percent and commercial class use increased by 3 percent.

The council approved the transfer of Heath Korb from the parks department to the wastewater department. It is anticipated his position with the parks department will not be filled until spring. The lack of rain this year has reduced the need for park mowing.