The Superior Express -

Though we reported snow two weeks ago, work is progressing rapidly on preparations to open the Superior Municipal Swimming Pool. Pool painting should be finished this week and Monday evening the city council approved the hiring of pool employees. A May opening date is anticipated.

The council approved hiring Seth Going as pool managers. Assistant managers will be Emma Henderson, Tierney Caper and Corrissa Arickx. Lifeguards approved thus far included Maddi Bargen, Oliva Smullins, Colten Butler, Declan Miller, Rylan Edwards, Nevaeh Wilhelms, Kiatlyn Nielsen, Lauren Tietjen, Regan Meyers, Lilly Edwards, Halle Bargen, Bayln Bargen and Mathis Thomas. It is anticipated at least one more lifeguard will be hired.

In other action Monday night, the council approved taking out a $400,000 loan payable in 5 years from Horizon Bank. The proceeds will be used to pay the city’s share of a an East Third street improvement project completed by the Nebraska Department of Roads last construction season. The interest rate is 5.6 percent.

The sale of the southeast lot in the Kottmeyer Business Park to Consolidate Concrete was approved. That lot was originally sold to the operator of the nearby ready-mix plant and then repurchased when Agrex considered using a portion of the business park for grain storage. Now that Agrex is pursuing another expansion option, the city has agreed to sell the lot back to ready-mix plant operator. The sale and purchase prices are identical, $20,000.

Permission was granted two property owners for the placement of rolloff dumpsters along the edges of city streets. In both cases the dumpsters will be removed prior to the Lady Vestey celebration. Approximately three parking spaces will be need at 311 Commercial while a renovation of the former Masonic building is underway. A dumpster will be placed at 1053 Kansas while a garage and basement is being cleaned.

Monday evening the final steps were taken to again qualify Superior as a Tree City USA.

Work is continuing on a longterm plan to eliminate all of the steel components in the natural gas distribution system. Some isolated pockets remain in the Oak Ridge Subdivision, along Sixth Street and along National Street.

This year the gas utility plans to eliminate the last remaining steel main along National Street from the alley behind Central National Bank to Eighth Street. In addition services on Dakota between Eleventh and Fifteenth streets will be converted. When this conversion is completed, the regulator station north of Kingswood Court will be abandoned.

The council approved the purchase of five new gas meters costing nearly $20,000. The meters will be installed on lines serving the Vestey Center, Bomgaar’s, the elementary school, Victorian Legacy and the Good Samaritan Center.