3 Hours of Chaos: Superior’s Common Clowncil Struggles to Find the Plot
“Is This the One You’re Talking About?” – The Meeting, the Legend, the Brain Fog
Ah yes, the Superior Common Council meeting that refused to end. Clocking in at three grueling hours, it was less “governance” and more “group therapy session meets municipal Mad Libs.” Somewhere between the heartfelt golf course updates and a Pledge of Allegiance that felt like it was sponsored by Ambien, we witnessed democracy at its most… performative.
From botched committee appointments to debates about definitions of the word “citizen,” the council gave us exactly what we didn’t ask for: confusion, long-winded hypotheticals, and existential dread over municipal bylaws. Let’s unpack the circus.
QUOTE OF THE NIGHT: “That’s the one that you’re talking about?”
This phrase was said so many times it practically became the city’s new motto. Half the council could not identify what item they were discussing. Who knew Roberts Rules of Order needed a damn GPS?
Nemadji Golf Course Presentation – Because What’s Democracy Without Divots?
Dan Walker, the GM of Nemadji, deserves an Oscar for “Best Attempt to Keep Council Awake.” He delivered a 30-minute PowerPoint on why your grandma should golf, how their driving range now takes Apple Pay, and the heart-melting tale of a junior golf tournament funded by a memorial.
Dan’s Hot ChatGPT Moment:
“We used ChatGBT to write our mission statement.”
Translation: “We’re outsourcing sincerity to a robot. It’s fine, you won’t notice.”
Meanwhile, a councilor actually suggested raising prices because the driving range had a wait list. Capitalism, baby. Golf for the 1%.
Mayor Jim Paine’s Quote Hall of Fame
“This should be a bit more organized than last meeting.”
Spoiler alert: It wasn’t.
“I will spare you that.” (regarding doing the State of the City during the meeting)
Too late, pal. You already dragged us through 20+ minutes of how to define the difference between a board, a commission, and an existential crisis.
“I think we have to have at least a memo that says the thing exists.”
If your governance plan sounds like it came from a rejected episode of “Parks and Rec,” you might want to rethink your structure.
THE VAN SICKLE DEBACLE – Nepotism? In This Economy?
When the Mayor tried to appoint his wife, former Councilor Jenny Van Sickle, to a seat just weeks after she was booted by voters, the room erupted into a soap opera of ethical hand-wringing.
Councilor Fennessey dropped the hammer:
“Appointing her now sends a troubling message… appears politically motivated… nepotism… slandering city employees…”
Meanwhile, Councilor Moffitt responded with:
“I wouldn’t get a root canal from her, but she can govern.”
ICONIC. We are truly blessed.
The City Attorney chimed in with an Emmy-winning line:
“No one has come up to me and said, ‘There’s something shady going on with the MICC.’”
Right. Because people love walking up to government attorneys to confess their suspicions like they’re in a cop drama.
COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS: Now With 100% More Confusion
You know your government is in tip-top shape when entire segments of the meeting are spent asking “Wait, do we even have this committee?”
At one point, councilors debated whether the City-County Committee even existed. It’s like trying to prove a ghost is real but you still have to appoint it to your budget committee.
PUBLIC SPEAKING TIME… Maybe?
Public comments were invited, but only after a game of “Guess If You’re Allowed to Talk.” A sign-up sheet? Optional. Participation? Also optional. Accountability? Who?
CLOSING MOMENT: “Let’s define what a citizen is.”
No, really. That happened. Someone suggested debating the definition of a citizen.
This is the same meeting where:
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Councilors admitted they didn’t read the 4pm email before the 6:30pm meeting.
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The Mayor scheduled a State of the City right before Memorial Day and acted shocked that people had plans.
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We nearly had an existential crisis about how library board appointments work.
Mic Drop:
Three hours. That’s how long it took for Superior’s Council to schedule, fumble, rehash, backtrack, and semi-approve the most basic function of government: putting people on committees. At this point, appointing a hamster named Carl to Parks & Rec might be more efficient. He wouldn’t need a memo.
Stay classy, Superior. Because your Mayor’s not.
Source : City Council Meeting
JIM Paine RECALL PETITION
Because Democracy Ain’t a Family Business
We, the undersigned, being of sound mind and chronically fed up, hereby demand the immediate recall of Mayor Jim Paine, also known as:
The Mayor Who Appoints His Wife Like It’s a Backyard BBQ,
Emperor Nepo the First,
and/or The Guy Who Forgot Elections Actually Matter.
REASON FOR RECALL:
On or around May 20, 2025, Mayor Jim Paine willfully ignored the democratic will of the people by appointing his recently voted-out wife, Jenny Van Sickle, to a city commission—mere weeks after Superior voters loudly and clearly told her to take the scenic route out of local government.
Let the record reflect:
The voters said no,
Mayor Jim said, “lol nah.”
In doing so, he:
Undermined public trust
Showed open contempt for voter decisions
Reinforced the idea that Superior is just a sandbox for his personal political Lego set
And gave nepotism a fresh coat of paint and a key to City Hall.
DEMANDS:
We respectfully demand:
The resignation or recall of Mayor Jim Paine for acting like democracy is optional.
A new city ordinance prohibiting the appointment of recently defeated candidates to any city post for a minimum of 12 months. Time-out corner rules apply.
A public acknowledgment that voters aren’t just speed bumps on the way to power consolidation.
SIGN BELOW IF YOU AGREE:
| Name | Address | Best Quote About This Sh*t |
|---|---|---|
Public Comments:
“This isn’t a city—it’s a Paine family group chat with a budget.”
“I didn’t vote for her in April, so why is she back in May?”
“I want government, not a rerun of The Real Housemates of Superior.”
📣 Read our new article: City Clowncil Meeting 3 Hours ! – Mayor Jim Recycles More Than Trash—Welcome Back, Jenny Van Sickle! | Experience the chaotic Superior Common Council meeting, where governance resembles…
— Soup Nutz (@SoupNutzNet) May 22, 2025
🔗 Read more at: https://t.co/QVLbGCTGFK...
