[{"_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",6193336,"mediaKeyId","3867800-ac90c059fea019e87331d60c59a51e06","parentId",3867800,"title","Superior council weighs user fee to shore up Moccasin Mike Landfill; awards Cell 5 Phase 2 contract","audioSeconds",4357,"startMs",968000,"endMs",5325000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3867800-ac90c059fea019e87331d60c59a51e06&start=968&end=5325","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3867800-ac90c059fea019e87331d60c59a51e06/thumbnail_968000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6193336/Superior/Douglas-County/Wisconsin/Superior-council-weighs-user-fee-to-shore-up-Moccasin-Mike-Landfill-awards-Cell-5-Phase-2-contract","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6193336-e71610eaa23901bbd77756c95dde5b7d/orig.mp4?Expires=1775338617&Signature=OxdKu0gk20kK06lfa6lZInVVW1zfQVYu~KAPXeHobpzVgNdmZ~7z9RmRuDlKzb-OOR3DaJigeV5y41kKpFazBbSsfkfiWf7pz2q2gzS2VsN0LqUGn8jd6hkljDfxrO6lC7SkvrIuF4cIRVdONI~Irq3kgYHf9zz8gOsBST3yC0Q5qja4TeHJYbpvSkGLOd6PJCw5J9uaKb1~1uleB2MBRIkvZRkJ0~A9KQiqvFaQ-dmP~-A-1DOhwSbHU-JbFrav--sA6twgzqCeA6hAyrVxAJn8UzI7BlxvE7H9nc0lzO~ASsMSvDSTFgxW~p71byzgNDvR5~28BjH5N1aVyu76Nw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Superior, WI","date","2025-06-19T18:56:02.51Z","article","Mayor Hagan convened a lengthy briefing on the economic viability of the Moccasin Mike Landfill, telling the council the city currently subsidizes landfill operations from the general fund by about $1 million a year and that subsidy is projected to grow unless the city changes its funding approach.

The briefing, led by landfill consultant Robert (Bob) Larson, Assistant Finance Director Jean Vito and Public Works Director Jeff Goetzmann, summarized operational and regulatory changes that have increased disposal costs (liner systems, leachate and gas collection, monitoring and permitting). Officials said revenue from the city’s contract with the Western Lake Superior Sanitary District (WLSSD) — roughly $3.0–3.5 million annually under the current contract — masks the underlying shortfall in the landfill enterprise fund.

Vito told the council the landfill fund is not self-sustaining and that continuing to rely on the general fund transfer would create growing deficits. Financial analyses presented to the council showed that continuing the current subsidy path would produce a cumulative deficit by the end of the WLSSD contract; the city would face larger deficits if the general fund transfer were eliminated and no user fee adopted. Staff presented three broad options: keep the current funding (do nothing), privatize the service, or implement a user fee.

Larson, a longtime academic and solid-waste consultant, recommended a user-fee model that places the landfill on an enterprise basis rather than relying on tax-levy transfers. Staff proposed a household average fee in the $17.50–$20 range: one proposal shown to councilors averaged roughly $20 per living-unit equivalent, with a recommended compromise of $17.50 for the first three years and an increase toward $20 thereafter. Vito and Larson said the fee would cover operating costs, capital needs and debt service and reduce the likelihood of new debt issuance when the WLSSD contract ends in 2019.

Officials stressed the timing urgency. Vito said language in the state biennial budget under consideration would, beginning Jan. 1, 2014, restrict municipalities from implementing fees for services previously funded in part by the tax levy; that moved the council’s timetable from months to weeks. Staff asked the council to allow a fast-tracked public outreach program and a council decision in mid-July (staff cited July 16 as the target council meeting) so the city could build a billing system and, if approved, begin collections in 2013.

Goetzmann reviewed operations and capital work at the Moccasin Mike facility, including recent upgrades: modern cell liners, a leachate collection system that pumps to the wastewater plant, a gas-collection network serving a flare, recycling and reuse operations, and other environmental monitoring. He said compaction rates and day-to-day operations meet or exceed industry standards, but cell construction and permitted requirements have grown much more costly than in earlier decades.

Councilors asked technical and policy questions about the fee structure, billing logistics (monthly billing preferred), options for graduated “pay-as-you-throw” container sizes, how non-taxpaying entities such as schools and churches would be treated, and whether the state’s $13-per-ton environmental or recycling fee could be challenged or reduced. Staff acknowledged the $13-per-ton state fee makes the city less competitive for regional waste contracts and placed efforts to pursue changes to that fee in a medium-term work plan.

Councilors also pressed staff on contingency and enforcement issues: how the city would enforce container size limits, handle extra bags, and bill or collect delinquent fees. Larson and staff referenced standard tools used in other communities — sticker systems for extra bags, container serial numbers, targeted enforcement and ordinances against illegal dumping — and said those details would be refined during outreach and implementation planning.

On a related, formal action, Public Works requested and the council approved awarding the Cell 5 Phase 2 construction contract to Integrity Excavating in the amount of $2,645,722.81. The contract award was moved and seconded on the floor and approved by voice vote.

Mayor Hagan and staff outlined a public-outreach plan that would include several daytime and evening informational meetings over the weeks leading to the July decision and printed/email materials and Q&A for councilors to use with constituents. Vito said staff would return to the council with results of outreach and recommended ordinance language and billing proposals at the target July meeting.

No final fee ordinance was adopted at the meeting. Council discussion closed with direction to proceed with public outreach and to return with specific fee language, billing options and an implementation plan.

Ending: The council approved the Cell 5 Phase 2 construction contract and directed staff to carry out an expedited public information campaign and return with a proposed fee ordinance and detailed billing plan at the July council meeting, with a target decision date in mid-July.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","June 4, 2013 Common Council Meeting, City of Superior, Wis","oneSentenceSummary","Mayor Hagan convened a briefing on the Moccasin Mike Landfill’s finances and operations and officials recommended a household user fee to end a roughly $1 million annual general-fund subsidy.","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},6193327,"Council actions: street vacations, licenses, equipment purchases and parking ordinances approved",5539,56000,5595000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3867800-ac90c059fea019e87331d60c59a51e06&start=56&end=5595","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3867800-ac90c059fea019e87331d60c59a51e06/thumbnail_56000.jpg","/articles/6193327/Superior/Douglas-County/Wisconsin/Council-actions-street-vacations-licenses-equipment-purchases-and-parking-ordinances-approved","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6193327-adeb9de86e11197f8cb352603182f901/orig.mp4?Expires=1775338617&Signature=koI5k4iiei7Mp7oH4PTJroD8A5gDNfjXMtW6UUZ2kwE0ugXTJxf6w22t9lJAqhv3f7zW-hYI3smVdf4Ycvf4jwr3zgD8G0JwOEAgDc3rakZgnCTlIdQoik~zzjs1OQmytCNE1C6CY4p3fiWzkpoJmNxrxXUudJ6tOD1qapHLbrkq~jHKDRNCFFH8V8R820OfM-Bs7bThOvnZ2dWFEbaiNERrstjqZLccnSjRNIkXucMuUeWg4tUj1IA5dVUmSGbH07Z39Dp8Km-ngrSIYyqQmy1lsTgnoMREN8eF1UHWyWVmIPdoqFWb~stv-jO2aeNeQ5euQ4TGADSYCSaxglZyCg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The council unanimously approved two public-hearing resolutions from the Plan Commission to vacate portions of Main Street on Connor's Point and to vacate a portion of the east–west alley between Winter and Broadway streets and John and Hewitt avenues; no public testimony was taken at either hearing.

On the alcohol non-renewal list (item 5.3), staff reported that applicants A, C and E were now code-compliant and could be approved; applicant B (identified in the transcript as The Elbow Room) withdrew; applicant D (On The Corner) remained noncompliant due to a sewer-billing issue with Superior Water & Light and its public hearing was held until the June 18 meeting. The council approved the recommended action on the list by voice vote.

The consent agenda was approved by voice vote without discussion.

Department items and equipment purchases approved by the council included:
- Approval to form a technology study group to review a possible move to paperless council document distribution (City Clerk Colon requested the study group).
- Award of the Cell 5 Phase 2 landfill construction contract to Integrity Excavating, $2,645,722.81 (see separate article for the landfill discussion).
- Purchase of replacement GPS survey equipment from Frontier Precision Inc., $30,664.
- Purchase of one 2013 John Deere tracked excavator from Nortrex Equipment of Ashland, Wis., at Minnesota state bid price (amount not specified in the transcript).
- Purchase of one 2013 Caterpillar rubber-tired excavator from Fabco Equipment of Superior at Minnesota state bid price (amount not specified in the transcript).
- Award of pavement-marking services to the vendor(s) listed in the staff packet (vendor name transcribed as \"forigner, asphalt, ceiling\" in the meeting transcript); amounts were described in the staff packet.

Committee and appointment items approved included multiple reappointments and appointments to commissions and boards and several administratively introduced resolutions: the council approved the city’s expression of support for National Night Out on Aug. 6, 2013, and set a July 2 public hearing to consider rezoning lots near Lambert Avenue and North 50th Street from suburban to R-1 B single-family residential.

Traffic-code ordinances introduced by the Public Works Committee and adopted by the council included time-limited parking changes on Birch Avenue (west side, 2-hour parking 7 a.m.–7 p.m.), a no-night-parking zone on Birch Avenue (east side, 3 a.m.–6 a.m.), a new no-parking area at 1810 Missouri Avenue (six feet each side of driveway entrance), and removal of a disabled-parking zone at 1520 Ogden Avenue. All passed by voice vote.

Ending: The meeting concluded after adoption of ordinances and a short public-business period; the council adjourned and planned to reconvene in committee of the whole.","At its meeting the Superior Common Council approved several public hearings and routine items: two street/alley vacations, partial approval of an alcohol-license non-renewal list (three applicants approved, one withdrawn, one held), multiple equipment purchases and parking-code amendments, and a consent agenda.",{"_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},6193332,"Council approves $120,000-per-year animal shelter management contract",85,300000,385000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3867800-ac90c059fea019e87331d60c59a51e06&start=300&end=385","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3867800-ac90c059fea019e87331d60c59a51e06/thumbnail_300000.jpg","/articles/6193332/Superior/Douglas-County/Wisconsin/Council-approves-120000-per-year-animal-shelter-management-contract","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6193332-48c3c8e81d8404fb7b9ce1708e961128/orig.mp4?Expires=1775338617&Signature=Uz8NvL9A3s7FC0skj9JOGxQPsdHZh3qHvLsJVz8ymUsIpANvDj4hGU9Cv-o0lXfBfgcK3nFo9yAOKRHz63wHQtDn7RasP8rREWLb7vI-nbclq9-d0Q-Ww4wLsj~YjEZOnQo36-23kIQsD~DxtJ7RPQEx-v-12efEr2XwcVegdq3E8DrhKgWhI82pKurQFCUqAO7GrJFDxOgqVHoEE9lsZlGKBTiuUQ46iyHSmk4J3zQwzni2cI1ChLdl6UgSbcVh-yD-8yrA8BWOpglJskdjQCcoR5TQTFNC6RerjkzNOyUVajrl5m4SoZd4ep1jMbzK9x4EK-c9SHPvAuiuKOoGqA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Assistant Finance Director Zahuski requested council approval of a management contract for the city animal shelter with Bridal Allies Humane Society for $120,000 per year. Zahuski said the organization will provide monthly financial reports, statistics on animals served and regular operational updates; staff meet with the shelter at least monthly.

Councilor Sweeney asked which departments would oversee contract performance. Staff replied that finance would oversee financial reporting, public works would handle building-related issues, and the city attorney has historically led contract negotiations. Zahuski said staff also maintain routine meetings with the shelter to follow up on operational concerns.

The council moved and seconded the contract and approved it by voice vote.

Ending: The contract was approved; staff will monitor compliance through regular reports and routine meetings, and the city attorney will continue to handle contract negotiations and modifications.","The council approved a management contract that assigns animal shelter operations to Bridal Allies Humane Society at $120,000 annually; councilors asked about contract oversight and reporting.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Superior council weighs user fee to shore up Moccasin Mike Landfill; awards Cell 5 Phase 2 contract

Council actions: street vacations, licenses, equipment purchases and parking ordinances approved

Council approves $120,000-per-year animal shelter management contract