The Superior Express -

The days of getting away with inappropriate activity unobserved in Superior’s City Park will soon be on the decline.

Monday evening members of the city council approved the installation of surveillance cameras. Two companies, CEI Security and Sound and Nex-Tech submitted proposals.

Both were considered qualified bidders with excellent ratings from area customers. The council selected CEI to provide the system with multiple cameras located throughout the park. The company’s basebid was for $17,707. However, the council elected to add additional features that will raise the final price.

A five-year plan to improve the electrical service in Lincoln Park was also approved.

The park is currently served with three separate electrical systems.

Monday evening the council authorized South Central Electric to replace that portion of the park’s electrical system immediately north of the playground equipment along the south radius of Lincoln Park Road. That portion of the project will cost $11,231.57 and is to be completed before the Candy Cane committee begins setting up the 2023 display.

A two-week extension of the date to complete the current Fourth Street repair project was granted the contractor. The final completion date was moved from mid-October to the end of October.

It was reported the city’s own street crew expects to soon begin the repair of damaged Commercial Street areas. Most of the work will be concentrated between Third and Fourth streets and will require the closure of all, or at least portions of the street. The areas to be repaired were previously marked.

The appearance of City of Superior utility bills may be changing. For decades, the city has relied on a post card billing format.

Under consideration is a switch to a more detailed format that would require mailing in a standard size envelope. The statements would be prepared and mailed by the company now responsible for the city’s electronic bill pay service.

The council approved a $5,000 loan to the Superior VFW post for the repair and replacement of the air conditioning system and ice machine which serves the VFW Building on South Central. The VFW will offer the building and a personal guarantee from Adolph Laluk as collateral.

Also approved Monday night was the purchase of 220 additional water meters which can be read remotely via radio signals. The meters will cost an estimated $45,655. Delivery is expected in 10 to 11 months.

Several years ago the city began replacing electric meters with the goal of eventually having all electric, water and gas meters capable of remote reading.

With the exception of about 20 meters, the electrical system has been converted and the water system conversion started. Currently 177 of the remote reading water meters have been deployed and plans are to deploy another 115 this winter.

It is anticipated the water department conversion will be completed 2025 and the utility will then begin converting gas meters.

Many of the current water meters are located in basements or crawl spaces.

As the next regularly scheduled council meeting falls on Oct. 9, a federal holiday, it was decided to meet instead on Wednesday, Oct. 11.