December 2020

Hi everyone – Thanks for re-electing me as your Trustee!  Monthly blog updates continue!  Here’s my update for Superior for December 2020.  Read on for Superior specific COVID numbers (another week of record cases), election turnout data, an update on Parks 1&2 in Downtown Superior, Superior Cash and more…  

COVID-19 Update

It was another record breaking week for Superior for new confirmed COVID-19 cases (see graph.).  As of December 3, Superior has recorded 176 confirmed positive cases in total (29 just this past week.)  Countywide, there have been 11,950 confirmed cases in Boulder County and 135 deaths.  2 of those deaths have been Superior residents. 

This graph can now be found (and is updated weekly) on the Town’s COVID page linked below.

CDPHE has moved Boulder County into Level Red.  Personal gatherings are prohibited, indoor dining is closed (but takeout is available), offices are limited to 10% capacity (remote work is encouraged for all), and schools are in remote-learning.  For more information on the various levels of restriction, please click this link.  

Boulder County Public Health will begin providing virtual community updates on Wednesdays at 3:30 p.m. via boco.org/CovidCommunityUpdate.  Participation on the webinar is capped at 500 people, but the updates will also be live-streamed on Youtube and community members may also call in to the session.

Please continue to wear your masks, wash your hands, and keep your distance.  Boulder County Public Health and CDPHE are advising us all to avoid gatherings with anyone outside of our households.  This includes gatherings outdoors and in open space areas.  For more information, please check out the Town’s updated webpage for COVID-19.

Election Turnout

Thank you for re-electing me for another 4-year term as Superior Trustee.  It is an honor and a privilege to serve, and I am humbled by all of your support.  In addition, congratulations to Paige Henchen and Tim Howard for being elected.  Thank you to all of the candidates for running and special thanks to Kevin Ryan and Sandie Hammerly for their service on the Superior Board of Trustees for the past 4 years.  

2020 was a record year for Superior voter turnout.  In 2016, 6,932 registered voters voted in the November general election.  In 2018, that number was fairly constant with 6,830 registered voters voting in the November general election.  In 2020, we crushed those numbers.  7,979 registered Superior voters voted in the November general election.  Thank you for doing your civic duty and for exercising your right to vote.    

New Landscaping Company in Superior

For the past several years, the Town has contracted with Vargas for all of Superior’s landscaping work.  However on October 26, the Town Board approved a new contract to hire Brightview Landscape Services.  Brightview will provide maintenance of turf and natural grass areas, trees, perennial and shrub beds, irrigation system, snow removal, refuse/recycling collection and other property maintenance services. Changes for 2021 will include new maintenance areas in Downtown Superior and an emissions reductions strategy including the use of electric (instead of gas-powered) mowers and edgers.  As you see Brightview performing their work, please take note and let us know how you think they are doing.  

Superior Chamber Home-Based Businesses & Superior Cash

Home-Based Businesses

The Town of Superior is excited to partner with the Superior Chamber of Commerce to provide a new grant opportunity for home-based businesses in Superior.  Using CARES Act funding, the Town will cover the cost of a one-year individual membership to the Superior Chamber of Commerce, a $275.00 value.  To apply, please complete the online Membership Application available on the Chamber’s website and submit it no later than December 10, 2020. If you are a Superior resident with a home-based business and already have a membership to the Chamber, please contact the Chamber (tj@superiorchamber.com) for information on how to apply the grant to your 2021 renewal.

There are approximately 45 home-based businesses in Superior that are in the Chamber now and have renewed their memberships. So far we’ve already had 21 new members join the chamber since we announced the program.

Superior Cash

At the suggestion of some of my brilliant fellow trustees, the Town is launching a program to support our local businesses called Superior Cash.  The Superior Cash program will provide each residence in Superior with two $10 certificates, redeemable like a gift card, for use at a wide range of participating Superior businesses through January 15, 2021. Each certificate includes a list of participating retailers. Superior Cash is funded through the federal CARES Act. 

Shopping local provides many benefits to our community.  Your business in local shops and restaurants not only strengthens our local economy, it also helps support police, street maintenance, parks, trails, open space, recreation and other critical municipal services.

Parks 1&2 and the Marshall Bridge Update

Grading work is expected to begin in December for Parks 1 & 2 and the Marshall Bridge in Downtown Superior.  The bridge will connect Marshall Road near the Element Hotel with Downtown Superior and cross over Coal Creek.  A link to a presentation to the Town Board about the bridge is available here.  

Plans for Parks 1&2 were approved by the Town Board in August 2017.    A rendering of Parks 1&2 appears below.

It will be great to see attention shift from the southern section of the Downtown Superior development (Planning Area 3) to the northern section (Planning Area 1).  For an overview of the entire development, I wrote about the project in May 2020.

CAPS – Art Installations

Our Cultural Arts & Public Spaces (CAPS) advisory committee continues their excellent work bringing new art installations around town.  Last month, the 20-year-old concrete bollards at the Community Park basketball court were painted by Longmont Artist Evan Colbert, and Louisville artist Gregory Fields installed a 250-piece, original ceramic mural of a peacock at Community Park playground.

There will be 9 more artworks installed by year-end, including a winter light installation at Grasso Park.  For more information, please check out this article in the Colorado Hometown Weekly. 

Low Down with Trustee Lacis

Would you like to meet with me one-on-one to discuss anything related to the Town of Superior?  If so, consider signing up for a “Virtual” Lowdown with Trustee Lacis. We’ll set up a Zoom Meeting.  Please shoot me an email at markl@superiorcolorado.gov and we’ll find time to meet.