[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6229933,"mediaKeyId","3443917-166574eb24f1b4f97909226aaaa107b7","parentId",3443917,"title","Council approves East Fifth Street reconstruction contract after public objections; award, utility and rail agreements also approved","audioSeconds",4217,"startMs",6509000,"endMs",10726000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3443917-166574eb24f1b4f97909226aaaa107b7&start=6509&end=10726","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3443917-166574eb24f1b4f97909226aaaa107b7/thumbnail_6509000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6229933/Superior/Douglas-County/Wisconsin/Council-approves-East-Fifth-Street-reconstruction-contract-after-public-objections-award-utility-and-rail-agreements-also-approved","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6229933-4f35f39cc7f7da9b08a91d7ef71aa619/orig.mp4?Expires=1771204328&Signature=ZGUZCsemwmhnCfhob2HCEwLYg~9zgvrAAXJcqFH6SsSanssOdQnWLJl3vb-kuHKFp8-~3RHJ4yyKLz2kxBVn3E694yZ7miasxJSUw3Hl95mHWoCdwXZDmvn3xIZWV9zVgIYe6iWapte1vtd-4PiQ-4fieWa6AORp0WsNtlX4PuPMASOmNsTCIEn-ro~xylgDxqoe1sFshOfJPvNyhIkrtrHfGgjnhuJIaGWuQzR7WSZieifeSluc429J3B3UXbS3Cs~LbeOIryAtmmiCVK~qwBijNVqtVyjQn6EkaXgmQJhsKFJgF9OZ-7g--zFFPDaErtEZyk1Up1adE-hfhyc46g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Superior, WI","date","2025-05-22T14:19:54.947Z","article","The Superior Common Council on May 20 approved multiple Public Works Committee recommendations, including a 6–4 roll‑call vote to award the 2025 East Fifth Street reconstruction contract to M Joma Inc. for $3,368,996.07, despite public commenters and union representatives who urged returning the matter to committee to investigate alleged wage and performance problems on prior projects.

Public comment and allegations

Several speakers urged caution and asked the council to disqualify the low bidder or send the contract back to committee. Aaron Dean, attorney for M Joma, said the company was the low bidder and that the State of Wisconsin had recently recertified the firm as eligible. “We are the lowest price bidder. We provide a $428,000 savings to the citizens of Superior,” Dean said, and he urged the council not to allow what he described as “endless process.”

Construction‑trade representatives countered with allegations about prior work. Kyle Bukovich, president of the Northern Wisconsin Building Trades, described a prior project in the village of Maenang where he said the village had to hire another contractor to fix work and that the village withheld liquidated damages; he urged the council to contact the village for records. Derek Peterson, vice president of Northern Wisconsin Building Trades, pointed to an affidavit M Joma submitted under the city’s responsible‑contractor ordinance and said the company’s Davis‑Bacon and prevailing‑wage history should disqualify it under the ordinance.

Staff recommendation and legal caution

Public works staff and the city attorney advised the council that, based on the record available to staff and their review, they recommended awarding the contract to M Joma. Director Janago said committee members and staff had asked for documentation and reviewed available materials but indicated unresolved questions remained about some allegations; he also warned that protracted legal challenges could delay construction into a later season and possibly increase costs.

Attorney Prowl cautioned the council that holding on‑the‑spot evidentiary hearings in open session would be inappropriate and could produce mini‑trials; he recommended a structured process if the council wanted to pursue formal fact‑finding.

Council vote and related approvals

- East Fifth Street reconstruction contract award to M Joma Inc.: approved by roll call, 6 yes, 4 no. Yes: Councilors Ludwig, Graske, LaDeen, Moffitt, Sweeney, Elm. No: Vice President Herrick, Councilors Johnson, Anderson, Fennessy. Outcome: approved.

- Construction administration services: council approved a $282,000 contract with Short Elliott Hendrickson Inc. (SEH) for construction administration for the East Fifth project (voice vote).

- Utility cooperative agreement: council approved a cooperative agreement with Superior Water, Light & Power for the utility construction portion of the project (voice vote).

- Rail crossing agreement: council approved a cooperative agreement with BNSF Railway for rail crossing reconstruction as part of the project (voice vote).

- Wade Bowl splash pad: the council approved the Public Works Committee recommendation and awarded the splash‑pad contract to North Interstate Construction for $688,000 (voice vote). The Public Works Committee reported the splash pad is hoped to be completed by fall 2025.

Why it matters

The East Fifth project includes pavement, storm sewer and utility work; delays risk pushing paving past state DOT seasonal paving windows and could increase costs. Staff warned that rebidding or extended legal disputes could defer paving to the next construction season and affect related grant timing (LRIP funding noted) and utility budgets.

Quotes from the meeting

- “We are the lowest price bidder. We provide a $428,000 savings to the citizens of Superior,” attorney Aaron Dean told the council in support of awarding the contract to M Joma.

- “Joma's response is misleading and false,” Derek Peterson of Northern Wisconsin Building Trades said while reading the city responsible‑contractor ordinance and pointing to alleged Davis‑Bacon violations and a failure to disclose them.

Discussion vs. decision

- Discussion: Extensive public comment included allegations about past project performance, claims of unpaid back wages and differing interpretations of the responsible‑contractor ordinance. Councilors discussed process, the ordinance’s wording and the trade‑offs between thorough vetting and construction season timing.

- Formal action: The council adopted staff recommendations for the East Fifth package of items, including the award to M Joma (6–4), the SEH construction administration contract, cooperative agreements with utilities and BNSF, and the Wade Bowl splash pad contract.

Ending

Council debate highlighted a policy issue the mayor and several councilors said should be addressed in subsequent ordinance revisions: clarifying the responsible‑contractor criteria and defining a predictable, transparent process for evaluating bidders to avoid ad‑hoc, last‑minute fact‑finding that might delay seasonal construction.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Common Council Meeting, Tuesday, May 20, 2025 at 6:30 p.m.","oneSentenceSummary","The council voted 6–4 on May 20 to award the East Fifth Street reconstruction contract to M Joma Inc., following public testimony alleging past prevailing‑wage and performance problems; staff and the city attorney had advised that available evidence supported awarding the contract and warned that further delay could push the project into the next construction season.","taxTitle","Superior, Douglas County, Wisconsin","taxId",69153,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6229929,"Council approves mayoral and president committee appointments after extended debate over process and one controversial seat",7919,3103000,11022000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3443917-166574eb24f1b4f97909226aaaa107b7&start=3103&end=11022","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3443917-166574eb24f1b4f97909226aaaa107b7/thumbnail_3103000.jpg","/articles/6229929/Superior/Douglas-County/Wisconsin/Council-approves-mayoral-and-president-committee-appointments-after-extended-debate-over-process-and-one-controversial-seat","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6229929-62bab60ff1107944e9d97bc597e5db45/orig.mp4?Expires=1771204328&Signature=YECjNYLwv7h9T6JmQDLv8M4Daz4d9Fi4hFiAQFFMRkZNa2LOWcvpaot82X45-4z0BPQ-FhQYittrVFiyCPlip404L0B14zo47dFyXsHMGhjSeTz8Lt~dIiXJMFm8H4XNGsJa0fI4TXyM59mu6bpfzj~uMU7raAluSoPr1u07hdY2p3hJPk9NxplVxeu2syhdteDlVvUCkulZAhdNq9OREwRbaxPN8rhzdZLnONCBlQ-c60-9oy5YsG4c4VY76U2ILYpvIsE49Qun-1yaiwrZfOEwRF9xwDsBepsM5qkZMHmruakL2O0SietScA15eXbSVaWOKMalFC1gCo~1JQmWgw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mayor Payne presented a substantial slate of committee and board appointments and a memo describing the legal foundations for who appoints which seats. Council debate focused on process clarity, statutory term lengths for library board service and whether elected officials or city staff should fill citizen seats.

Controversial Metropolitan Interstate Council appointment

Councilor Fennessy spoke at length opposing the mayor’s citizen appointment of Jenny Van Sickle to the Metropolitan Interstate Council, citing the recent election defeat of Van Sickle and asserting potential optics of favoritism. “Appointing her now sends a troubling message that the public's voice can be bypassed and that personal connections matter more than public trust,” Fennessy said, urging colleagues to consider alternatives provided by the mayor’s office.

Supporters and other councilors disagreed. Councilor Moffitt noted Van Sickle’s prior service on that committee and said an electoral loss from a separate office does not automatically disqualify someone from a citizen appointment. After roll call, the council confirmed Van Sickle’s appointment 8–2 (No votes from Councilors Fennessy and Johnson).

General debate on appointment process

Councilors spent substantial time asking for a clearer, more consistent process for appointments next year. Topics raised included:

- Statutory terms for library board appointees (Mayor Payne noted state statute sets a three‑year term for library board members and that rotating a council seat yearly likely conflicts with statute).
- Whether the council president or the mayor should appoint certain councilor seats (the mayor said ordinances and outside organizations’ bylaws sometimes determine appointing authority and that a compiled memo was intended to clarify that).
- Preserving citizen seats: several councilors said citizen seats should remain reserved for residents who are not elected officials or staff to broaden representation.

Approvals and procedural items

- The council confirmed Jenny Van Sickle to the Metropolitan Interstate Council by roll call, 8 yes, 2 no.
- The council approved the remainder of the mayoral and president’s appointments by voice vote after limited division; Council President Graske recorded an abstention on one vote.
- Mayor Payne and councilors agreed to take the mayor’s memo as a working document and to refer improvements to committee (Councilor Moffitt suggested HR as a venue to refine appointments process). The mayor said he would work with staff to create clearer guidance and that he supported ordinance refinements as needed.

Museum MOU and other items

The council also extended the memorandum of understanding with Superior Public Museums; Councilor Fennessy requested a longer extension to accommodate seasonal operations and the council amended the motion to extend the MOU to August 5, 2025 (no objection), and approved the extension.

Why it matters

The appointments process determines who represents the city on dozens of advisory boards and outside organizations; councilors said a clearer, documented appointment process and consistent bio/qualification summaries would help transparency and recruitment.

Quotes from the meeting

- “Appointing her now sends a troubling message that the public's voice can be bypassed and that personal connections matter more than public trust,” Councilor Fennessy said of the proposed appointment of Jenny Van Sickle.

- “Past service does matter, and Ms. Van Sickle has served with that committee for a number of years,” Councilor Moffitt said in support of confirming the appointment.

Discussion vs. decision

- Discussion: Extensive debate about how appointment authority should be allocated, whether citizen seats should be preserved for non‑officials, and the need for a public list and consistent bio format for appointees.

- Formal action: The council confirmed individual appointments (including Van Sickle) and approved the remainder of the appointment slate and the museum MOU extension to Aug. 5, 2025.

Ending

Councilors asked staff and the mayor to refine and clarify the appointments memo and recommended bringing proposed ordinance or process language to committee for consideration before next year’s appointment cycle.","Mayor Payne presented a large slate of committee and board appointments on May 20; councilors debated procedural clarity, statutory term limits and the appropriateness of appointed citizen seats before confirming the slate and a contested citizen appointment.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6229938,"Nemadji Golf Course outlines irrigation plan, junior golf expansion and facility upgrades",1749,960000,2709000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3443917-166574eb24f1b4f97909226aaaa107b7&start=960&end=2709","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3443917-166574eb24f1b4f97909226aaaa107b7/thumbnail_960000.jpg","/articles/6229938/Superior/Douglas-County/Wisconsin/Nemadji-Golf-Course-outlines-irrigation-plan-junior-golf-expansion-and-facility-upgrades","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6229938-21c6a945f295245687aaa773b3ffabd1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771204328&Signature=QbgV9iAjHkIaUlyENooI7uAvvgvjyvkKtqs9QTsN2nJSrVDHZX4q-4mbhvVrVPPrsBP0-RPU0dAqrpJp2LAYxAJElhLqanhlcSaF0GD18DRm5dPLd4gtT86U1TE8aLCznzeAWR7AwYRy85oFq3qowsCdfssdTIwejvboa0xBWZJbgiBl9pHEopiIV~Kx1~yaufm7YNeBQW-8ikDZ~NOvWTx2AIkHjr1C48D2fFMkUTJ09BKxbkvVp2DsKJ08cV39fkdgX0slwB34ObZOz037EZGFS8Ie-nJ4Q7u-sui1v7orxBtwyazIMX1Y-7bLnyxsYYU3MseYJ8D7EQP8X05PsA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Dan Walker, the new general manager and head golf professional at Nemadji Golf Course, told the Superior Common Council on May 20 that the course’s top priority this year is an irrigation upgrade and pump‑house replacement, and that a recent meeting with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources cleared a key hurdle.

“Through this meeting, last Thursday and some communication, that got ironed out, they gave us the go ahead to move forward,” Walker said, referring to permitting that will allow the project team to reuse spoils from pond dredging as part of phase 1. He said that reuse would lower costs and make a fall 2025 start possible “if all goes well with permitting at this point.”

Walker told the council the current pump house and irrigation system are “extremely old, archaic” and lack modern computerized controls; new satellite‑based systems would reduce wiring in the ground and extend the course’s viability for “30 to 40 years.” He said that without a working irrigation system “you don’t have a golf course.”

Why it matters: the irrigation replacement affects course conditions, maintenance costs and the long‑term viability of Nemadji as a municipal recreational facility. Walker said the permitting update materially changed the project timeline and budget outlook and allowed staff to finalize bid documents with the city.

Most important details

- Permitting: Walker said a meeting with the DNR and city staff resolved previous uncertainty and permitted reuse of dredge spoils from phase‑1 pond work, which he described as a significant cost savings and the reason the project may now begin this fall.

- Project prioritization: Walker called the irrigation and pump‑house work “number 1 on the list for Nemadji Golf Course.” He described the current system as obsolete and said modern systems provide remote control and improved reliability.

- Staffing and operations: Walker introduced Brian Wallen as the new superintendent and said two new PGA assistant professionals have joined the staff. He described improvements to the driving‑range payment system (touchscreen, app and membership tracking) and said the range is heavily used: he counted about 35 stalls in use and an additional 63 people waiting during a recent visit.

- Junior golf and fundraising: Walker said the course will expand its junior golf tournament, renamed the Butch Benny Star of the North Junior Golf Tournament after a long‑time season pass holder who directed memorial contributions to the junior program. Walker said the entry fee will be $5 and participants will receive two rounds, food and a swag bag.

- Capital repairs and amenities: Walker described approved capital work including new roofs and painting for the Oasis building and starter house, pro‑shop improvements and plans for more dependable on‑course food and beverage service via permanent stations. He said the Oasis building work is planned to open seven days a week.

Quotes from the meeting

- “At Nemadji Golf Course, our mission is to inspire and connect with our local community to provide an exceptional golf experience across our 36 hole championship layout, the Compass Par 3 Course, and our premier driving range and practice facility,” Walker read to the council as the course mission statement.

- On the irrigation project: “Without an irrigation system, it doesn't matter what we do with our golf carts, with our restaurant, with our pro shop, with our leagues. You don't have a golf course,” Walker told the council.

Discussion vs. decisions

- Discussion: Walker’s presentation was informational and proposed priorities for course maintenance, programming and capital improvements. He described improved permitting and staff planning but did not request immediate council funding changes at the meeting.

- Direction/next steps: Walker said staff will finalize bid documents with the city now that the DNR hurdle is resolved and hopes to issue bids soon to allow fall 2025 work if permitting and scheduling permit.

Ending

Council members responded with mostly positive remarks about youth outreach and course reputation; several asked technical questions about pricing, scheduling and next steps for bidding. No formal council action was required on Walker’s presentation during the May 20 meeting.

","General manager Dan Walker told the Superior Common Council the top priority is a phase‑1 irrigation project that now can reuse dredge spoils after a recent meeting with the DNR; Walker also described staffing changes, driving‑range demand, junior‑golf fundraising and planned building repairs.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council approves East Fifth Street reconstruction contract after public objections; award, utility and rail agreements also approved

Council approves mayoral and president committee appointments after extended debate over process and one controversial seat

Nemadji Golf Course outlines irrigation plan, junior golf expansion and facility upgrades