This document contains email correspondence dated December 5, 2022, from Superior Mayor Jim Paine to representatives of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and City of Superior staff regarding the ongoing review of the Paine Property conservation easement. The discussion is part of the multi-month effort involving the City, the DNR, and the Paine family to clarify, reassess, and potentially modify the conservation easement first established decades earlier. Mayor Paine’s inquiry seeks an update on the DNR’s internal review and requests a preliminary summary of the agency’s positions so the City can prepare for any counter-proposals or required documentation.

The email references earlier DNR communication from November 18, 2022, in which DNR staff member Connie Antonuk informed Councilor Jenny Van Sickle that the agency was actively preparing a formal response regarding the easement proposal. She explained that James Yach, Northern Region Secretary Director, would coordinate outreach with Economic Development Director Jason Serck and include other City officials as needed. This structure of communication highlights the multiple levels of coordination occurring within the DNR’s regional and real estate programs as they attempt to understand the historical easement records and the Paine family’s requested changes.

Attached within the email chain are prior correspondences extending back to October, September, and August 2022. These earlier messages include discussions about the original 1989 limited development easement, the coastal wetland and fisheries habitat the easement was intended to protect, and the City’s effort to gather maps, property documents, and ownership verification. The DNR repeatedly notes the importance of receiving complete historical materials in order to assess whether the easement remains enforceable, whether any compliance concerns exist, and how modifications might be evaluated.

Mayor Paine’s December 5 message demonstrates the City’s desire to keep the process moving efficiently, especially before the slowdown anticipated during the holiday period. The correspondence underscores the collaborative approach between municipal leaders, property owners, and state environmental officials as they work toward a clearer understanding of the easement’s obligations, potential boundary adjustments, and next steps for decision-making. While the DNR’s final response is not included in this document, the email emphasizes the City’s readiness to act once guidance becomes available.

• Wisconsin DNR – Real Estate Program
  https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/RealEstate

• City of Superior Mayor’s Office
  https://www.ci.superior.wi.us/27/Mayor

• Wisconsin Conservation Easements Overview
  https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/lands/conservation