Mayor’s State of City Address: Superior Aiming to Continue Growth and Address Old Issues

SUPERIOR, Wis. – At Superior’s ‘State of the City’ address, Mayor Paine said he is hoping to continue the city’s growth but wants to address lingering issues.

Superior Mayor Jim Paine spoke to members of the public on Thursday for his annual ‘State of the City’ address. Mayor Paine highlighted the addition of new businesses and community involvement in planning recreational projects like a new skatepark and congratulated Superior Police for their efforts in curbing drug crime.

The address also included several commitments to the public from the mayor. When speaking about the issue of lead water lines in the city Mayor Paine said he is “not waiting for the utility or the state to take action” and that “this summer, the city will begin replacing residential lead lines.”

By the end of the summer, “We will release our plans to replace every lead line along major street projects and later this summer we will release our plans to replace every single residential lead line in the city at no cost to the homeowner,” Mayor Paine said.

Lead water lines have been a contentious issue for the city, and its relationship with its water utility company Superior Water Light and Power. The company has claimed it can replace the lines with partial funding from the state or federal government; however, as a for-profit company, they are largely prevented from getting funding.