The Superior city council held its first meeting of 2018 on Tuesday night. It was a longer meeting than usual, with lots of items on the agenda and three presentations. 
The first presentation was from the fire department. They are in the works of designing and planning a new main engine house on Tower Ave and 34th street in Superior where the current one stands. The new building, as the presentation showed, will be much bigger and offer living quarters and training spaces. Nothing was voted on during Tuesday’s meetings but the city council was able to ask questions and see where they are in the process of making a new main engine house a reality. 

The planning department requested the approval to move forward purchasing a .58 acre property from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation near Tower Ave and 4th street. Council president Dan Olson asked why the city should be buying it, to which planning director Jason Serck said that it is an opportunity for the city invest in in the future, and that the location might increase in worth since Earth Rider has just opened up nearby. Properties tend to increase in value when craft brewery’s open up in neighborhoods. Olson was concerned that this was just speculation. The council voted in favor of the land purchase with Olson being the only vote against. 

The second presentation came from the Superior Community Garden Association. They were presenting the city council with what they have been doing and what their plans are for the future. Their mission is to provide community garden space and promote sustainable garden practices. They are looking to purchase a space on Oakes avenue to give the community in that neighborhood an opportunity to grow their own herbs, fruits and berries. They are hoping to gain funding through grants for their projects.  

The last presentation was an update from Minnesota Power and Dairyland Power Cooperative on the Nemadji Trail Energy Project. Nemadji Trail will be a natural gas plant in Superior slated for completion in 2025. It will be owned half by Dairyland and half by Minnesota. Each company is funding half the project and will use half the energy it produces. The purpose of their presentation was to show the council where they are at and what their process is looking like. 

Ice Festival returns 

The annual Lake Superior Ice Festival will take place next weekend from January 26 through 28.
The family oriented event will include ice hockey games as well as open skate time. Ice sculptors will be working on Friday to create their pieces for people to come see. A children’s ice sculpting demo will take place on Saturday as well. A firework show will happen Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. An ice princess will visit Saturday, after which sterling silver studio fire twirlers will perform.  Sunday will include an carts and crafts fair, hockey game, and open skate. 

A trolley will be available downtown near Vintage Italian Pizza and the Belknap plaza to bring people into Barkers Island for the festivities.