It takes work. Together we made it happen.
Protected Superior’s strong bond rating, improved our debt profile, increased revenue and property values.
Lowered taxes, the residential garbage fee and the storm and wastewater fees.
Created
Makwa Ziibins walking trail from Bear Creek Park to Wisconsin Point.
Connect Superior Open Access Broadband Network.
Woodstock Bay Waterfront Park.
SPLASH PAD
Students ride the DTA free
Created various grant programs that funded local food shelves during the federal government’s pause in food benefits and gave access to local organizations that (for the first time) included churches to replace their HVAC systems, parking lots, and St. Francis’ restored their bells.
Banned conversion therapy in the City of Superior
City-wide composting program
Small business grant program that has distributed nearly 1 million dollars
Commission on Communities of Color, implemented annual staff training
Vacant house recycling program that ended nearly all housing demolitions.
Vacant to value construction program that filled nearly every vacant city housing lot.
Wrote and implemented a Responsible Bidders Ordinance
Museum passes available at the public library
Banned NDAs
Eliminated library late fees
Dog park near the Millenium Trail head; repurposed hockey rinks to create mini dog parks in the summer
Harbor Market vendor cottages on Barker’s Island
Restored
Indigenous burial grounds ownership to Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Ojibwe
Stone Council Circle
Sidewalk plowing along Safe Routes to School
Nearly all city playgrounds with new equipment and bathrooms, including Wisconsin Point
Acquired the former Bungee Dock at 44th Ave E.
Christmas tree pick up service in parks
Fully-rebuilt skatepark. It was a million dollars and it’s awesome.
Membership to the Great Lakes Initiative to protect Lake Superior
Plantings/green infrastructure along Tower & Belknap
City sidewalk reconstruction program in all neighborhoods.
Bus service to Billings Park and South End
Barker’s Island Beach
Fully repaved the Osaugie Trail
Revitalized our Approach
In East End and downtown we added dazzling christmas lights
Business are cutting ribbons and opening their doors
Local manufacturing is expanding
Began electrification of city fleet, including the Twin Ports first electric fire rig and police squads. The capital investments ease the long term pressure on our general fund.
Faster and more efficient rescue system through dedicated medical response teams.
Direct homelessness response police staffing.
Pathways to Hope addiction recovery and diversion program.
Issued $200,000 of our ARPA allocation to local childcare businesses for staffing support, supplies/education and capital improvements; in addition the city received and distributed a large state grant to further support longer term child care investments by business owners.
Pilot Scenery & Home curb appeal improvement grants from the Neighborhood Improvement fund
New firehall broke ground this year in North End
Returned traditional fire to Wisconsin Point with Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Ojibwe leadership and direction
Brought in goats to tackle invasive species instead of herbicides
Historic Preservation
After years of neglect under private ownership we intervened to save the Carnegie Library to save this historic and special place.
Under public ownership, the building still stands and we’ve stabilized the roof. I don’t want to return to the time where the bones and stories of our city are repeatedly demolished. It’s not pretty but it is there and that’s important too. The building is for sale.
I’ve been charmed by of the efforts of local actors and writers who keep pressing theatre forward. The stories of Roth’s department store, the Edmund Fitzgerald, mixed in the with fun and tall tales of deer camp in the midwest come to life through their time, talent and love of this community’s history.
Restoring the Princess Theatre has been a special community effort. A handful of us spend Friday afternoons cleaning up for a few hours at a time. This is our downtown and no one wants a hole there. I believe in this project and have pressed forward in the local investment of our downtown. Small theaters are thriving in small cities all over the country. Downtown we can have dinner and a drink before enjoying a local show. We currently have plans to renovate the two existing apartments on the upper floor to eventually generate revenue. The theatre can also serve as a flexible public event space.
Housing
We’ve added hundreds of units of housing to formerly vacant lots
Created a development deal to renovate the former Lake Superior Elementary into housing
Vacant house recycling program that ended nearly all housing demolitions.
Vacant to value construction program that filled nearly every vacant city housing lot.
UP NEXT: Community Land Trust
We need our state legislature to return power to municipalities so that we can crack down on absent, negligent landlords.
A city with your family in mind.
Tower Ave restoration with tree-lined median.
Full rebuild and improvement of Hammond Avenue with tree lined median.
Why trees?
Streets with medians improve safety for pedestrians and narrower streets discourage speeding.
Increasing green infastructure reduces flooding, keeps cities cooler, and improves neighborhood value. Trees grow stronger and more effective capturing stormwater year after year–the effect keeps polluted run- off out of Lake Superior.
They also look great.