Small Town News

Positive town accomplishments/successes a collaborative effort, Oliver says

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Following her review at a recent Superior Town Council meeting Town Manager Melanie Oliver was reaffirmed in her leadership role in the administrative arm of town government.

Mayor Michael Hing made the announcement in open session at that time that Superior was "moving forward" with Oliver as the manager. This month she enters her second year in the administrative leadership job. "I began my transition to the town ' manager position in February, 2008," she said recently. She began as acting town manager, then was named interim town manager and finally received the title of town manager.

She is also the town clerk.

During those two years, Superior has made progress on a number of ' fronts and completed or acting on a variety of projects that had been on the table for years. Oliver said that these accomplishments have come about through partnership and effort of town staff, leadership and council, everyone working together.

She is appreciative of these efforts. She wants to publicly express "thanks to the council and staff for their support over the past years," she said last week.

Topping the list of some things that have been getting done in Superior are sewer collections. The administration, at council's direction, is making rapid inroads into reducing a huge backload of overdue trash/sewer bills.

Also included at the top of the roster are improvements on Main Street and the completion of the new fire station.

The fire station, located near Golf Course Road and Mary Drive, now houses the entire fire department operation and has a community room and other state of the art amenities. It includes a newer structure in addition to a previously built one on the site that was empty for a substantial length of time. The town's old fire station has been put to other uses such as temporary use as a recreation center and the council recently approved a sale of that property. Work completed on the Main Street Improvement Project has included roadway improvements to enhance drainage at the High School Avenue intersection. Also done are drainage, roadway, sidewalk and curb and gutter improvements near the Lobb Avenue intersection. Workwas paid for by a combination of grant and town monies available at the time. More projects completed include an ambulance-air service contract, inmate labor contract and successful retention of this additional labor for the town, VFW monument lighting at the cemetery, Peace Park flags and lighting, Resolution Copper contract, EMS (Emergency Medical Services) contract and update of building codes. Personnel figures in the positive side of town administration as well. Superior now has a building inspector on staff, a building and safety director and a public safety department and director.

Town Hall has moved to the old Belmont Building, creating more room for the operation of the police department in the old town hall. The town of Superior has modernized with a voice mail system and digital council packets and laptops for council members, as well as an upgraded sound system for council meetings.

The Ramada and Skate/Multiuse Park near the swimming pool has been completed. The town has also finished work in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act on the downtown food courts and retrieved $118,000 from the Department of Housing due to completion of work prior to contract award by the previous town manager.

The Thrift Store has been rehabilitated and a grant has provided an upgrade to the kitchen at the Superior Senior Citizens Center.

A dentist has come to town and set up a practice. Previously residents had to seek dental care outside of the town, creating a hardship for some.

The town has abated the dangers presented by the now demolished Uptown Theater and other similar properties, including the removed middle part of the Magma Hotel, implemented a new personnel policy, and adherence to the OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) and amended the Superior General Plan.

In process is a system to allow credit card payments for town services and the near completion of the Caboose visitor center on U.S. 60, as well as U.S. 60 Park horseshoe pits and improvements.

The town also initiated the Parks & Recreation Fire House Program in the old fire station. Funds are no longer available for this but Parks & Rec is offering math tutoring and marital arts classes at the Superior Senior Center on Main every Saturday morning from 10 a.m. to noon.

A major success story for the town of Superior is the creation of the Superior Public Safety Explorers Program. This is a career exploration program for Superior youths that includes hands-on experience and training in all aspects of public safety work, including police and fire department careers.

Oliver said that her "challenges" for the future are in the areas of finance department and election date oversight.

Her goals include completions of the LOST (Legends of Superior) Trail that is sometimes referred to as the Legends Trail and was previously called the Queen Creek Trail. Work on this long awaited recreational trail has begun. A community work day has been scheduled on the morning of Feb. 27 with an appreciation lunch to follow.

Other goals include the hiring of a town manager assistant, surviving budget shortfalls into the next fiscal year and creating separate checking accounts for special projects and enterprise.

More goals are along the lines of improving employee/manager relations, improving communication with council members, promoting economic development and assisting the Planning and Zoning Committee with proposed zoning changes.



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© 2010 The Superior Sun Superior, Nebraska. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.

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