Anonymous donor pledges $1,000 to Superior town pool with "strings attached"

SUPERIOR - An anonymous donor has come forward and said they would be willing to give $1,000 to the Superior town swimming pool with "strings attached," Superior Mayor Michael Wood reported at the regular meeting of the Town Council Nov. 12.

The "strings" would involve the funds going towards one of two things – either extending the pool use season or training a "long time manager."

"Extending the season is hard as most of the lifeguards return to sports practices in mid-August," the official minutes read. "Hiring and training a long time manager is a possibility. The town will have to advertise the position."

Town Councilor Denyse Traeder said that she would contact the anonymous donor and also reported that the swimming pool has been winterized.

In other council business, Mineral County Sheriff Ernie Ornelas requested that a speed limit sign on Fourth Ave. east be raised to prevent it from being blocked by parked cars.

Sheriff Ornelas further requested that the stop signs on the corner of Third Ave. east and Cedar Street be cleared of tree limbs and bushes in order to maintain visibility.

Public Works Supervisor Roger Wasley said that he would take care of both the speed limit sign and the trimming.

Town Councilor Kelly Dillon read the streets report from Oct. and said that snowplows have been installed. Wasley added that winter cold mix was purchased for repairing potholes.

In the Oct. sewer report, read by Mayor Wood, it stated that a new blower has been installed at the Lagoon and "known trouble spots in sewer lines have been cleaned."

Architect Ron Nash attended the meeting and gave the council an update on the town office project.

The office, which will be an addition to the new Superior Fire Hall, is in the design stage and Nash reported that progress is being made on the plans according to schedule.

"I have not spoken to you or the council yet regarding a bid date because of the flux created with all the issues around CDBG’s involvement, but the drawings should be ready by the middle of November," Nash said.

Superior Volunteer Fire Chief John Woodland said he would contact the CDBG to set up a meeting and that himself and Mayor Wood would travel to Helena for the meeting.

Mayor Wood read the monthly fire department report, which stated that SVFD responded to five calls in October – including a car fire on Interstate 90 and the fire at the Pellet Mill.

"On Friday, October 12, we responded to a reported vehicle fire on the westbound side of I-90 adjacent to the Cenex propane tank," Mayor Wood read. "The vehicle turned out to be a Class C motor home. The fire spread to the adjacent grass and impinged on a billboard. The Forest Service also responded."

Just before 3:00 a.m. on Oct. 16, the SVFD responded to a fire at the Pellet Mill. According to the monthly report, from the amount of visible flame there was already a structure fully engulfed – which prompted a request for Mutual Aid from both the St. Regis and Frenchtown Fire Departments.

"We were able to keep the fire from spreading beyond those parts of the facility that were already on fire at the time of our arrival," Mayor Wood read.

The West End Volunteer Fire Department also responded to the fire.

Mayor Wood also reported the SVFD gained two new members and lost two, one due to "health issues."

The Superior Town Council will conduct its Dec, meeting on Dec. 10.