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Tower council rejects pause on Lake Avenue propane tank, OKs talks with Superior Fuel
Summary
After a failed motion to pause construction, the Tower City Council voted 4–1 to pursue good-faith discussions with Superior Fuel and arrange a meeting with the company about the proposed propane tank at Lake Avenue; two separate motions on the matter were considered during the public-input period.
The Tower City Council considered competing proposals on a proposed propane storage tank at Lake Avenue during its Jan. 12 meeting, rejecting a council-initiated pause but voting to pursue discussions with the company.
During public input three people who had signed up — Lake Avenue residents Joan Broten and Al Kirkpatrick and Timberjay editor Marshall Helmberger — spoke about the proposal before council debate. Councilor Kevin Norby moved “to stop Superior Fuel from putting in Propane Tank at Lake Avenue.” He later amended the motion to inform Superior Fuel that the city was calling a pause on further construction until the city could meet with its attorney to discuss potential liability and ordinance compliance.
That motion failed on a 3–2 vote. Councilor Norby and Councilor Van DeVoort voted aye; Mayor David Setterberg and Councilors Joe Morin and Bob Anderson voted nay. After the failed pause motion, Councilor Morin moved to pursue a “good faith discussion with Superior Fuel to see if construction can be halted and set up a meeting with Ryan at Superior Fuel.” That motion passed 4–1, with Mayor Setterberg, Councilors Morin, Anderson and Van DeVoort voting aye and Councilor Norby voting nay. The council directed Councilor Morin to contact Superior Fuel and arranged for a subset of councilors to meet with the city attorney in the coming days.
Council discussion included procedural and legal points. Mayor Setterberg reported he had heard from the city attorney, saying “the Attorney states the City has acted in accordance with City Ordinance.” Planning & Zoning official Cliff Koski told the council that, based on the ordinance, there had been no grounds to deny Superior Fuel’s permit application submitted in October 2025. Councilor Norby argued the council should pause to confirm there was no legal exposure and to ensure the city was acting in residents’ best interests; in the meeting minutes he is recorded as stating the council “is not acting in the best interest of Tower Residents.”
The council did not adopt an ordinance or take final regulatory action on the permit; instead it approved outreach to the company and follow-up consultations with legal counsel. The public comment period and subsequent votes concluded without a formal order to stop construction.
Next steps recorded in the minutes include Councilor Morin contacting Superior Fuel and some councilors meeting with the city attorney for further guidance. No timeline for further council action was specified in the minutes.
