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Residents press council on lead service lines, steep reassessments and EV charging access
Summary
Three residents used public comment to urge the council to address lead service lines and disclosure, explain a large property tax increase tied to a long‑overdue reassessment, and consider electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
Three residents spoke during public comment at the Jan. 7 Superior Common Council meeting, raising public‑health, tax and infrastructure concerns the council did not resolve but that councilors and staff acknowledged.
Madeline Emala, a District 8 resident and licensed realtor, told the council that residents were recently provided a map showing lead water service lines and that, “I was told there's no plan, timeline or funding in place to address this.” Emala said the notice will affect home sales because the presence of lead lines must be disclosed to buyers and homeowners have limited options: in some homes the utility side contains lead pipe and in others the owner side does. She said Superior Water, Light and Power told her they had no plan or cost estimates for replacements and that her requests for follow‑up calls had not been returned; Emala asked the council to “provide water filters specific for lead at no cost until this issue is addressed” and to prioritize an action plan and regular resident updates.
Sue Haver, a District 5 resident, described a large assessment change to her property. She said her assessment was last updated in 1999 and that the recent reassessment raised her fair market value substantially; she reported her property tax rose roughly $800 with a school levy increase she estimated at about $500. Haver said she had contacted Mayor Payne, the city assessor Terry Johnson and her councilor, Brent Fennessy, who returned her calls, and she asked the council for information on why reassessments were not completed sooner so increases would not appear as a single large jump.
Jeff Monahan, a resident who works in the electrical industry, urged the council to support electric vehicle charging infrastructure, suggesting sites such as the Bong Visitor Center or waterfront locations near Barker's Island. Monahan said U.S. electric vehicle adoption will grow and that public charging would serve both residents and visitors.
Councilors did not take formal action during public comment. The council did extend the first speaker's time and allowed additional time for the remaining two speakers; staff and council members acknowledged the issues and indicated they would follow up through the appropriate departments and the meeting packet materials.
