Superior Mayor Delivers State Of The City Address

SUPERIOR, Wis. – Superior Mayor Jim Payne delivered his State of the City speech Thursday evening from the stage at the Douglas County Historical Society.

Paine gave an upbeat take on the past year in the city, and encouraged residents to have a positive outlook, especially when talking with visitors to Superior.

Among the highlights Paine mentioned were grants provided to 20 local childcare centers that now can provide care for 30 more children, the creation of the “Connect Superior Broadband Utility,” and the promise that the first customers will be online by next spring.

Paine reminded residents that the accomplishments reached in the past year are due not just to him. Instead, he said they are the result of work put in by city council members. “I want you to see and remember just how effective we can be when we work together to make our city a better place,” said Paine. He continued, “Councilors, we’ve had a great year because you have worked harder than ever before, and your work is paying off. You have my gratitude for your ideas and your vision.”

Looking ahead to the year ahead, the Mayor is proposing a strong new law against vaping and vape shops in the city. “These products and their dealers have caused an epidemic in our schools, threatening the health and lives of our children” said Paine. “This stuff is poisoning kids. I hope you’ll all stand with me and pass the toughest rules in our state.”

Paine ended his State of the City, by naming Dr. LaHelmi Harrington as Superior’s Citizen of the Year. Harrington is the Curator of the World of Accordions Museum in Superior.

Click here to watch the full speech.