ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER SCANDAL

SINK OR SWIM?

SPECIAL UPDATES FROM SOUPNUTZ AND THE DULUTH MONITOR

AND 6 ROUNDS WITH ME VS. JIM PAINE

938.Let’s start with Sept 8, 2021 with this article from Wisconsin Public Radio.

City, Tourism Leaders In Superior Fight Over Future Of Marketing City To Visitors

City leaders said the change will increase transparency over tourism spending while local tourism officials say the move threatens funding for tourist attractions. The Superior City Council voted Tuesday to send further discussion of the proposal to the Committee of the Whole.

THE CITY CONTRACTS FOR TOURISM PROMOTION AND DEVELOPMENT WITH TRAVEL SUPERIOR, WHICH IS THE VISITOR BUREAU ARM OF THE SUPERIOR-DOUGLAS COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. THAT CONTRACT IS SET TO EXPIRE DEC. 31.

A 2015 state law mandates that 70 percent of money generated through room tax go toward tourism promotion and development. The revenues must be forwarded to an existing tourism entity or a tourism commission.

Superior Mayor Jim Paine said some city council members want more control over how money is spent on promoting tourism.

“I think that’s a very real desire to have some say in what these marketing campaigns look like and how much we spend on them,” said Paine. “That’s a power we don’t have now.”

THE CITY COLLECTS AROUND $800,000 EACH YEAR IN ROOM TAX REVENUES, ACCORDING TO TAYLOR PEDERSEN, PRESIDENT AND CEO FOR THE CHAMBER AND TRAVEL SUPERIOR. HE SAID TRAVEL SUPERIOR RECEIVES ROUGHLY $600,000. A PORTION OF THAT FUNDING IS DEVOTED TO ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE RICHARD I. BONG VETERANS HISTORICAL CENTER AND THE TOURISM DEVELOPMENT FUND COMMITTEE. TRAVEL SUPERIOR RESERVES AROUND $150,000 FOR ADVERTISEMENTS TO PROMOTE THE CITY AND REGION.

He argued the change threatens funding for multiple organizations, including the Bong Center and Superior Public Museums.

“There’s no guarantee that they’re going to continue to get that going forward,” said Pedersen. “And more importantly, tourism in the city of Superior is one of our lead economic drivers. By potentially stopping promotion of tourism the way we’ve been doing, we could disrupt the great work that we’ve accomplished. And, obviously, there’s a negative impact for Travel Superior if we no longer receive those funds or only receive a portion of those funds.”

PEDERSEN CONTENDS THAT ROOM TAX COLLECTIONS ARE UP 90 PERCENT IN THE LAST DECADE, ADDING THAT TOURISM HAS BEEN GROWING EACH YEAR EXCEPT DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

“We’re coming off of the tail end of a pandemic that really shook the roots of tourism,” he said. “I don’t know that it’s the best timing for this.”

Paine argued Superior’s tourism attractions already receive funding from the remaining 30 percent that the city receives from room tax revenues except for the Bong Center, which receives funding from both the city and Travel Superior.



Paine and some city council members feel more could be done to promote tourism in the city. He said the change isn’t about ending the relationship with Travel Superior, which he feels has done a great job running the city’s visitor center.

The state’s room tax law allows a tourism commission to contract with other organizations for marketing services beyond a community’s existing tourism entity. But, not all city council members are comfortable with the move, including Brent Fennessey. He fears a tourism commission will inject more politics into tourism marketing.

“Those members could basically put their attention towards a project or a couple projects and the broad level promotion of Superior as a whole could get lost,” said Fennessey.

He said the commission could devote 100 percent of tourism promotion funding to a convention center. The city council approved a contract with a Minneapolis firm last month to conduct a feasibility study on building a new convention center in Superior.

Katie Perrault with Nummi Jewelers told the city council she sees no need to change tourism promotion and fully supports Travel Superior.

“Just the idea of putting something like the (Duluth Entertainment Convention Center) in Superior doesn’t seem like a good enough reason to change the way we’ve been doing it and how much growth we’ve seen in this city,” said Perrault.

Superior’s change follows a move by the city of Duluth in August to negotiate a contract with a Twin Cities firm to market the city to tourists instead of Visit Duluth, the city’s tourism bureau. Paine said Superior’s decision to create a tourism commission was driven by the end of the city’s contract with Travel Superior, saying it was “pure coincidence” that both Duluth and Superior tourism contracts ended this year.

Others who spoke before the city council supported forming a tourism commission, including Pattie Soliday, who formerly owned a marketing business in Superior. She supports a convention center and fears the cost to build one may fall on the city’s taxpayers without forming a tourism commission. Still, she opposed the city contracting with other outside marketing firms, arguing it would waste time and resources.

“PLEASE DO NOT MOVE US BACKWARDS IN THE BATTLE FOR VISITORS AND HOTEL GUESTS,” SHE SAID. “PLEASE DO NOT FOLLOW WHAT DULUTH DID. I BELIEVE THAT WAS A MISTAKE.”

COMMENT

BACK TO THE STORY...

Any tourism commission would be prevented from using revenues to build a lodging facility under state law, according to the League of Wisconsin Municipalities. But, it could devote money to support “tangible municipal development” like a convention center.

Earlier this year, the Racine County visitors bureau alleged the village of Mount Pleasant wanted to keep tourism revenues for its planned convention center. The visitors bureau sued the village and accused officials of unlawfully spending money collected from hotel room taxes. The village has contracted with the visitors bureau for decades, but the most recent 

contract expired at the end of last year. That case is still pending.

COMMENTS

941. Keep in mind this story is from 2021 or as I like to call it, the beginning of the coup. I also think it has everything to do about money and politics. Where have you heard this before? Next is a story from Fox 21News on Sept 2, 2021.

‘Travel Superior’ CEO Speaks Out Against Mayor Paine’s Tourism Commission Proposal

September 2, 2021 by Dan Hanger

SUPERIOR, Wis. – The president and CEO of Superior’s visitor’s bureau, known as Travel Superior, is speaking out against Mayor Jim Paine’s proposal to create a tourism commission to handle 100 percent of the city’s tourism tax revenue.

Taylor Pedersen believes the process to potentially do away with Travel Superior has been rushed and he doesn’t believe a six-person commission is the best way to oversee roughly $860,000 in hotel-motel taxes every year.

Pedersen, who is also the head of the Superior-Douglas Area Chamber of Commerce, said his board of up to 20 people, which includes Mayor Paine and members of the restaurant and hotel industries, is a more transparent process with public dollars.



“To have a volunteer committee appointed, by one to two people on an annual basis, decide who receives 100 percent of the hotel-motel tax and no guarantees that it’s going to be used for tourism and development,” Pedersen said. “Tourism is increasing every year. The system’s not broken. Why are we really choosing to change it at this point, and I haven’t gotten that answer when I’ve asked that question.”

COMMENTS

943. The plot thickens and the coup by Fidel Paine and friends is in full force. Next is a story from the Telegram from Sept 13, 2021.

Superior council to take up tourism commission

September 13, 2021 at 3:00 PM 

The Superior City Council will meet as a committee of the whole Tuesday, Sept. 14, to discuss the future of tourism in the city.

The council has the power to act on a pair of changes to the city’s hotel-motel room tax ordinance that would allow a tourism commission to use 70% of the city's room taxes for tourism promotion and development starting Jan. 1, 2022. The other change would create the Superior Tourism Development Commission.

The city currently contracts with Travel Superior to handle tourism development. The contract expires at the end of the year.



The idea is not new, said Michelle Hostetler of Gordon. Hostetler worked with a group of citizens in 2016 to try to convince city leaders to make the change when Wisconsin’s law changed. The measure never moved forward.

“(Commissions) were created by the Legislature in 2016 in Wisconsin to have better buying power and to bring communities together to work toward a common goal,” Hostetler said. “… A lot of communities went to them in 2016. I think Superior’s the biggest community that didn’t go to a commission right away.”

RELATED:

• Superior council delays decision on tourism commission Councilors will seek more information before changing how tourism promotion is handled in Superior.
• Paine column: Tourism commission offers Superior more transparency, flexibility A tourism commission is carefully regulated and operates with full transparency, but it’s also far more flexible than our current system. Rather than do the same thing year over year regardless of the results, the commission can adapt as our community grows and changes. 

COMMENTS

944. So, who is Michelle Hostetler? Well turns out she was hired by The Development Association in 2011. Here is a portion of an article from the Telegram that was published on Sept 2, 2011.

The Development Association welcomes Michelle Hostetler as its new executive director. Hostetler was hired in August and succeeds Douglas County Administrator Andy Lisak.



Hostetler previously served as executive director for the Sweetwater Economic Development Association in Sweetwater, Wyo. She holds a bachelor's degree in social work from Goshen College in Goshen, Ind., and a Juris Doctor degree from the Washburn University School of Law in Topeka, Kan.

COMMENTS

944-a. First off, I am not here to bash Michelle at all. Second, why didn’t the Telegram mention her position in the The Development Association since they wrote the article in 2011 and this article? Your guess is as good as mine.



Anyway, turns out that I know her. Back in late 2012 or in early 2013, I approached her for some financial help for Shorty’s (which opened in Aug. 2013).

I have to confess that I don’t remember a lot from our several discussions other than I had a positive impression of her, unlike my impression of working with many city of Superior employees. As far as her endorsement of the city taking over the travel and tourism business from “Travel Superior” who by all accounts have done a very good job, It is not a position I can relate to. 



I have always said that if the government ever took the best and largest and most profitable American corporations, they’d be bankrupt in 6 months. In the case of Jim Paine, make that 3 months.

945. Now let’s go to 2022. Here is an article from Fox 21 news on April 19, 2022.

Superior Council Unanimously Approves Tourism Contract with Duluth-Based Swim Creative

April 19, 2022 by Arman Rahman

SUPERIOR, Wis,- Superior City Councilors voted unanimously Tuesday to approve a tourism contract worth $250,000 to a marketing agency based out of Duluth called “Swim Creative.”

Superior Mayor Jim Paine says the choice was between 3 bidders, but in his book, Swim Creative rose to the top.

According to the Mayor, they were the best at reaching out to citizens to flesh out a campaign that sets Superior apart from Duluth — and nearby Wisconsin tourist destinations like Ashland and Bayfield — as a place with great access to Lake Superior and rich history and story to tell.



“They really manage to sell us on the idea that they’re going to do much more than an ad campaign and they’re going to use many different forms of marketing,” the Mayor said.

“We’re not just talking about billboards and ads here we’re talking about an aggressive digital presence we’re talking about a humor and art and connecting the community to tell the whole story,” said Paine.

According to the Mayor, Swim Creative can now begin their campaign immediately.

This comes after the Council voted last year to establish a tourism development commission to control tourism tax revenue, bypassing Travel Superior, which previously held that role.



The Council decided they’d have to approve any contract worth more than $25,000.

This contract with Swim Creative is worth $250,000, over three years, Paine said.

COMMENTS

945-a. Voila! (that’s french) Fait Accompli! (also french) The dirty deed is done. Remember when people would tell a story and finish it off by saying “And if you believe that I have some cheap land in Florida to sell you.” Well, Jim Paine is the guy who bought that land. Apparently you can sell him anything and when you do the taxpayers are stuck with the bill. And as it turns out the land is swamp land. More on this as we go on.

This next story is one I remember very well. After reading it, I said to my wife “WTF is this POS doing now? The date of the article was September 1, 2022 and that POS, Jim Paine had shut down the Palace Bar only 3 months earlier. This article comes from the Minneapolis Star Tribune. Here it is.

With tourism booming, Superior and its tourism bureau part ways

After decades handling the tourism business of the city of Superior, Wis., its chamber of commerce withdrew from the role this week.

With shades of a similar situation in Duluth last year, a change in how tourism tax money was allocated led to reduced duties — and cash — on offer to the 139-year-old chamber.

Last year, Superior shifted to a new tourism funding model, where a commission of six mayor- and City Council-appointed members decides where its lodging tax proceeds go. In recent years, money has automatically gone to the Superior-Douglas County Area Chamber of Commerce, administered by its tourism arm, Travel Superior.

The commission then asked for bids to handle promotion of the city, and awarded Duluth ad agency Swim Creative a $250,000 contract over Travel Superior. In July, the city offered Travel Superior $40,000 to continue operating Superior's visitor center inside the Richard I. Bong Heritage Center. It rejected that offer.

"There are significant operational challenges with that amount of change, and that's what drove our decision to say 'no thank you' and walk away from tourism," said chamber President Taylor Pedersen.

Travel Superior had requested about $84,000 to continue operating the visitor center. In existence in some form since 1964, it helped about 1,800 visitors in August.

Mayor Jim Paine said Superior's move to change the funding model wasn't influenced by Duluth's decision to award the bulk of its tourism tax proceeds to an Edina-based marketing firm, with a smaller cut going to Visit Duluth, the previous longtime tourism promoter.



The city had been mulling the end of Travel Superior's three-year contract before Duluth's decision, with some unhappy with the tourism bureau's direction, he said.

They were focused on telling the story of Superior in other markets and promoting membership rather than the broader business community, Paine said, while he believes tourism is best promoted by making a city "worth visiting."

"I'm a very big believer that if you make a place that's so vibrant, fun and exciting, that those of us who live here enjoy getting out of our houses and experiencing it, then other people will visit it as well," he said.

Lodging tax proceeds that go directly to tourism spending in Superior continue to grow, likely to be around $750,000 in 2022. While large portions have traditionally gone to the Bong center and funding for a local grant, and continue to, Travel Superior had sole discretion on how the rest was spent. In 2021, that was about $400,000.

"Money was increasing so dramatically it no longer felt responsible turning it over to an entity with no public oversight," Paine said.

And some city officials wanted to see money spent in new ways, such as incentives for filmmakers and a tourism coordinator position.

But Pedersen says the chamber's regional tourism efforts are what helped grow lodging tax proceeds by nearly 50% since 2017, with 2021 the "best year on record for local tourism."

COMMENTS

946. First off it’s never a good idea when a mayor decides to go against the Chamber of Commerce, the largest business organization in town and in the country. It sends a very bad message to all businesses. Why would you change when “Travel Superior”, run by the Chamber a local entity who were setting records? And to make it worse you farm it out to a company that is not even in this state. Proof that Paine loathes success. A stupid move from a stupid person. The Chamber were rightfully pissed off and a good source told me that they were considering suing the city but I don’t think they ever did. And what ever happened to “If it ain’t broke don’t fix it.”

947. Then there was this story by Northern News Now on April 28, 2023.

Superior launches new tourism campaign ‘Gotta Be Superior’

Thus, ”Gotta Be Superior” was born.

Lindsey Graskey, a city councilor and chair for the Tourism Development Commission, said the city is excited about the campaign’s vintage and historic theme.



“I think we just sit in a very unique space in the world, and I think that this project and honestly the campaign is just highlighting those things more and more than they have been before,” Graskey said.

ME THINKS SPUDS MacGHASTLY HAD TOO MANY SPIRITS

The campaign includes TV ads and bus billboards in places like Madison and Eau Claire, encouraging fellow Wisconsinites to explore the northern part of the state, as well as a digital campaign and brand new website.

“We’re not running a campaign to try to encourage people to come here. We’re telling people that this place is so great you’re going to want to come here. That’s the work, telling the story of what this place already is,” Paine said.

They said the center will be getting a makeover to reflect the ‘Gotta Be Superior’ campaign.

MAYOR PAINE AT GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY

948. On July 25, 2023 our friends at Soupnutz.net chimed in with this story.

Barriers: How Superior’s Tourism Commission Violated Open Meetings Law and the Fight for Transparency

JULY 25, 2023

Did Superior’s Tourism Commission Violate the Law?

The short answer? Yes. On January 3rd, Superior’s Tourism Development Commission broke Wisconsin’s open meetings law, as confirmed by District Attorney Mark Fruehauf. Former commissioner Bruce Barron filed three complaints after seeing the commission’s practices slide from the standards he remembered.

MARK FRUEHAUF

Let’s dig into what went wrong and why the public has reason to be concerned.

The Allegations: Barron’s “Disappearing Transparency”

Barron resigned in 2022, but his commitment to public accountability didn’t stop there. He noticed troubling practices: agendas posted just hours before meetings, inadequate access to meeting records, and questionable handling of virtual attendance. So, he took action, filing complaints that shined a light on the commission’s failures.

Barron’s point? This wasn’t just a lapse; it was a breach of public trust.

DA Fruehauf Steps In… But Stops Short

Fruehauf confirmed the violation: the commission posted the agenda just 4½ hours before the January 3rd meeting—a clear breach of the 24-hour notice rule. Even with that shortened notice, the commission approved substantial contracts, including nearly $94,000 for the Veterans Historical Center.



But Fruehauf stopped short of imposing penalties. Instead, he accepted the city’s promises to improve. For those who’ve watched this process before, it sounds like the usual “we’ll do better next time” routine.

Delayed Records, and the Public Left Out

Here’s where things get interesting. Barron requested the meeting documents be posted online, but the city only provided them in print, and after a delay. Fruehauf suggested this delay may have been more than just a slow response, hinting that it could’ve been intentional obstruction.

Barron wasn’t satisfied. Delays in access to public records? That’s not a small thing—it’s a major accountability gap.

January 17th: Another Closed Door?

Then came the January 17th meeting, where Barron and former commissioner Steven Poole couldn’t access the session virtually. While virtual access isn’t required by state law, the pandemic set a new expectation for transparency. Fruehauf defended the commission’s choice, but the public has a right to wonder: is the commission taking advantage of a technicality to dodge real transparency?

Why Did Graskey Cut the Broadcast?

Councilor Lindsey Graskey didn’t help ease concerns. After the January 17th meeting adjourned, she ended the broadcast, even though the commission was still discussing Poole’s 

resignation. Fruehauf noted this, implying that cutting off public access to ongoing discussions was intentional.

When elected officials turn off the cameras mid-discussion, it raises a question: What are they trying to hide?

The City’s Next Steps: Promises or Real Accountability?

Fruehauf said he wouldn’t pursue penalties, citing corrective steps taken by the city. Promises of annual open meetings training are nice, but are they enough? For those who’ve seen how the system works, it feels like the city’s opting for a “retraining” over real consequences.

For citizens, these promises are easy to make but harder to keep. Without accountability, what prevents this from happening again?

Is Trust Being Restored, or Just Patched Over?

Barron voiced optimism that the city could learn from this, but he wasn’t naive. He knows accountability is never comfortable, but he also knows it’s necessary. Superior’s leaders may say they understand the public’s right to know, but it’s up to the people to keep them honest.



In small-town government, transparency is fragile. And if you’re a citizen of Superior, now is the time to watch your leaders closely.

COMMENTS

949. What a joke. That’s the sausage being made, Superior style. Justice served with pinky promises. I might just turn vegan. But the biggest joke of them all is Paine and the city said the following in the beginning of today’s Blog. 

“City leaders said the change will increase transparency over tourism spending.” 



So Superior, the joke’s on you!

950. On Aug 9, 2024 our friends at the Duluth Monitor ran this story.

City of Superior has no idea if they approved $1.3 million Swim Creative contract 

By: John Ramos  Date: August 9, 2024

At their regular meeting on June 25, 2024, the City of Superior’s Tourism Development Commission considered an agenda item which read “Discussion & Approval of SWIM Contract.”



Duluth-based marketing and advertising agency SWIM Creative has been managing the city’s “Gotta Be Superior!” branding campaign for the past three years. SWIM was requesting $1,209,838 for the upcoming three-year term—2025-2027.

Instead of including the contract which commissioners were being asked to approve, the agenda packet contained SWIM’s sales presentation and budget proposal.

During their discussion, commissioners and city staff who were present appeared to be discussing a contract. When commissioners began talking about optional items, Chief of Staff Becky Scherf reminded them, “The big piece to focus on, at least for today, is the actual three-year contract, without the add-ins … The critical piece, for them, is to have a contract with us … so they can start working on the next campaign … Having a contract in place, which is what you’re looking at right now, is the critical piece to get them to work.”

Commissioners voted to amend the SWIM contract to add $21,000 per year for social media management. The updated total for the three-year contract was now $1,272,838.



Commissioners then voted to unanimously approve the amended, invisible contract.

Common Council confusion

During regular meetings of the Superior Common Council, a section of the agenda is reserved for councilors to deliver reports for commissions and committees which they chair.

The reason Fennessey asked about the $25,000 figure was that City code specifies that expenditures which exceed $25,000 require Council approval.

Rather than providing Fennessey with the contract dollar amount, Councilor Graskey directed him to the Agenda Center.

Graskey: The agreement is in our meeting [packet] to project three years in advance, so we did approve a three-year contract with numbers, but that is basically approving those start of those numbers.

Fennessy: You say “those numbers.” That’s kind of what I’m looking for, is what those numbers are.



Graskey: They are in our TDC packets that are online in our Agenda Center. They’re easily available.

Fennessy: Okay. I guess where I’m going is [that it is] over $25,000. I’m just wondering why that contract wasn’t put before the Council for approval.

There was no “agreement” or contract in the Agenda Center. The fact that a Commission chair was refusing to share important information during a public meeting—especially after being directly asked about it by a fellow councilor—was extremely unusual.

Mayor Jim Paine then interjected, saying that he believed it was illegal for the Council to have oversight of Tourism Development Commission expenditures.

Mayor Paine: I did have a conversation with the attorney … about a year after the Tourism Commission was created. We were discussing it, and he found the ordinance that requires contracts requiring Council approval legally dubious, almost certainly in violation of the [Wisconsin] statutes. Tourism Commissions are built to be independent, and therefore the Council would not have authority to review their decisions … As far as why it’s not here tonight, I didn’t make that decision.

The mayor’s comments failed to clarify the matter. If it is against the law for the Council to approve TDC expenditures, the Council has repeatedly broken the law to date. Since 2022, they have approved seven expenditures from the TDC, some of them quite substantial, and nobody questioned whether their actions were legal.

Only four months earlier, on March 19, 2024, the Council approved a $120,000 contract with comedian Charlie Berens—to have him produce content for the city on his social media sites—at the recommendation of the TDC. At the time, Mayor Paine spoke enthusiastically in favor of the proposal. He did not suggest that Council oversight was unnecessary or illegal.



But now, suddenly, when the TDC had approved a $1.3 million marketing contract without seeing it, the mayor seemed eager to keep it under wraps.

Fennessey: This isn’t an effort to try and hide our contracts and the spending with this commission, is that correct? 



Paine: It’s not an effort to do anything at all. I didn’t make this decision.

Fennessey: Okay.

Graskey: May I add to that, if that’s okay?

Paine: Sure.

Graskey: I mean, if there’s numbers you’re looking for, Councilor Fennessey, they are widely available on the Agenda Center. If you have questions, you can simply ask me as well, but it is public information, so if that’s what you’re looking for, they’re located there.

Fennessey: And I guess where the confusion comes from is there is no contract in the Tourism Commission Agenda Center.

Paine: Yeah, I think, councilors, you both expressed your opinion … I think that’s about as far as we can probably stretch this conversation. I would encourage both of you to reach out to the attorney and ask these exact questions of him and get a more formal opinion.

Following the meeting, the Monitor asked Mayor Paine how the Tourism Development Commission had been able to approve a contract without seeing it.

The mayor responded in an email on July 17: 



You asked about how TDC can approve a contract that was not in the packet. I looked into this today and the answer is quite simple: TDC neither considered nor approved a full contract at their last meeting. While the agenda noticed the possible approval of a contract, the Commission merely discussed and approved terms of the contract, namely the annual expenditures (or budget as they described it) during the life of the contract. Those terms will be added to a final document, which the Commission will consider at a future meeting. This likely also explains why the contract has not appeared in front of the Council.

On July 23, the Monitor emailed Superior City Attorney Frog Prell, asking him to clarify the role of the Tourism Development Commission and whether the Council had oversight of the TDC’s decisions, as required by city code.



Mr. Prell responded on July 24: “I am aware of the confusion regarding the city ordinance and the authority of the TDC. I will get to that matter soon and will get back to you when I have had a chance to give it more study.”

The Monitor sent Frog Prell a follow-up email on Aug. 7, requesting an update. The email received no response.

To recap:

• June 25, 2024—TDC agenda referenced “Discussion & Approval of SWIM Contract” (not “possible” approval, as the mayor claimed)
• June 25, 2024—During discussion, Chief of Staff Scherf told the TDC, “Having a contract in place, which is what you’re looking at right now, is the critical piece.”
• July 16, 2024—At the Common Council meeting, Councilor Graskey stated, “We did approve a three-year contract.”
• July 17, 2024—Mayor Paine told the Monitor that the “TDC neither considered nor approved a full contract.”



On July 18, the Monitor emailed Councilor Graskey the following question:

Please clarify exactly what you approved on June 25, 2024. Is there a contract in place or not?

Despite repeated follow-ups by the Monitor over several weeks, by email and in person, Councilor Graskey has refused to answer this question or any other question relating to the Tourism Development Commission.

The TDC has not met again since June 25.



The fate of $1.3 million remains unknown.

FINAL COMMENTS ON THIS STORY

951. Typical Jim Paine. Comes up with a dumb idea then walks away from it. Doesn’t know, understand or care about the procedures. Leaves it up to the tourism fairies. They are about as useless as he is. No follow up. Tries to sweep it under the rug. Makes sure he mentions more than once that it’s not his fault. No answers. No solutions. And you wonder why I don’t want government to own anything?

952. Soupnutz.net steps up with yet another fine story on Dec 4, 2024.

Outcry Erupts as Superior Tourism Commission’s $120,000 Contract with Charlie Berens Sparks Scandal and Calls for Transparency

December 4, 2024

Superior’s Tourism Commission: Secrecy, Scandal, and a Botched $120,000 Deal

The Tourism Development Commission (TDC) of Superior has found itself embroiled in controversy yet again, this time over a $120,000 contract with social media influencer and comedian Charlie Berens. The deal, touted as an innovative effort to boost tourism, quickly unraveled under intense public scrutiny, exposing flaws in leadership and governance that have plagued the TDC for years.

The Deal That Sparked Outrage

The contract, approved by the Superior City Council and championed by Lindsey Graskey, the TDC chair and council vice president, sought to leverage Berens’ popularity to promote the city. Known for his “Manitowoc Minute” videos and Wisconsin-themed humor, Berens commands a following of more than 9 million across platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. The plan called for Berens to produce 10 pieces of content, including two short videos shared on his social media channels, to draw attention to Superior’s attractions.

SPUDS MACKENZIE

SPUDS MacGHASTLY

Superior residents, already wary of the TDC’s track record, expressed outrage over the lack of transparency. This uproar mirrored previous frustrations with the commission, including Graskey’s past violations of Wisconsin’s open meetings law. The secrecy surrounding the Berens contract reinforced suspicions that the TDC prioritizes expedience over accountability.

“The community wasn’t rejecting Charlie Berens,” one resident noted. “They were rejecting the process—a closed-door decision that felt more like a dictate than a partnership.”

Damage Done Without Spending a Dime

While the $120,000 contract was ultimately scrapped before any money changed hands, the damage to the TDC’s reputation was already done. Critics argued that the debacle highlighted a broader failure of leadership, with Graskey at the helm.

The fallout has left Superior taxpayers questioning not just the wisdom of the Berens deal but the commission’s overall approach to governance. Graskey’s repeated reliance on secretive decision-making has created a culture of mistrust, with each new controversy further eroding public confidence.

Leadership Under Fire: Graskey’s Troubled Tenure

This isn’t the first time Lindsey Graskey has faced criticism for her leadership style. Her violation of Wisconsin’s open meetings law—a cornerstone of government transparency—underscored a troubling disregard for accountability. These incidents are part of a larger pattern in which public input is sidelined, and transparency becomes an afterthought.

Graskey’s defenders argue that she is bold and willing to take risks, but critics see her leadership as emblematic of a deeper issue within the TDC. The commission’s repeated missteps suggest systemic problems that go beyond any single contract or controversy.

Calls for Change: Transparency as the Only Path Forward

The Berens fiasco has become a tipping point for many Superior residents, who are demanding a radical shift in how the TDC operates. Moving forward, the commission must embrace transparency as a guiding principle, ensuring that decisions involving public funds are made with public input.



Critics insist that open meetings must live up to their name, and that taxpayers must be treated as partners, not obstacles. Graskey’s leadership will need to reckon with these demands if the TDC hopes to regain trust.

Conclusion: A Costly Lesson in Mismanagement

Superior taxpayers may have avoided a financial disaster, but the damage to public trust remains profound. Under Lindsey Graskey’s leadership, the TDC has repeatedly chosen secrecy over service, leaving the community disillusioned and distrustful.

This episode should serve as a wake-up call. The people of Superior have made it clear: transparency is not optional. For the TDC to rebuild its credibility, it will need to abandon the backroom politics that have defined its recent history. Without meaningful action, the commission risks further alienating the very community it exists to serve.

COMMENTS

RUNNY NOSE PAINE

953. Remember the good old days? I’m talking about a couple of years ago before Jim Paine and his “World domination” or at least “Superior Domination” mentality kicked in? Travel Superior which was run by the Chamber of Commerce were moving along and posting good numbers. Did you ever hear or read anything negative? But then “Pinhead Paine” stuck his runny nose in the mix, tried to sell the Council and us that there was something about transparency that he didn’t like and that the city should take the whole thing over. How did that work out? And for many of us, well let’s just say, we are not surprised. That is why I’ve said time and time again that I’m against government owning anything. Now look at the mess we are in. When will we ever learn? Welcome to Jim Paine’s world.

954. And now the final story today on this mess from our friends at the Duluth Monitor from June 3, 2025.

As Swim Creative fails to meet social media  management goals, City of Superior considers doubling their compensation

By: John Ramos  Date: June 3, 2025

On June 25, 2024, the City of Superior’s Tourism Development Commission approved a six-month marketing contract with Swim Creative. For $1,750 per month, Swim Creative was responsible for the “organic social media management” of the city’s tourism information bureau, Gotta Be Superior, from July to December of 2024.

Swim held monthly meetings with the Gotta Be Superior team to plan social media content, and then published two posts and two stories per week on Gotta Be Superior’s Facebook and Instagram accounts. Swim was not responsible for creating the posts’ content; they simply scheduled and published the copy and graphics supplied to them by City of Superior staff.



Swim appears to have largely fulfilled the terms of their 2024 contract. They did, however, have a minor misstep in December, when they published only four of the month’s eight Facebook posts to Instagram.

And then came 2025



In November of 2024, the Tourism Development Commission approved the renewal of Swim’s organic social media management contract for 2025 (using the $1,750 monthly rate from the 2024 contract). The City of Superior immediately paid Swim in full for the 2025 contract—$21,000.

Upon review, Swim does not appear to be fulfilling the terms of their 2025 contract. In the 21 weeks since the beginning of the year, Swim should have published 42 posts (2 posts per week) on each of Gotta Be Superior’s Facebook and Instagram pages, for a grand total of 84 posts.



A review of Gotta Be Superior’s social media pages reveals that only 47 of the required 84 posts have been published since Jan. 1, 2025.

Even though Swim was paid $1,750 per month for the past five months (a total of $8,750), none of the posts have performed very well. The 23 posts published on Facebook received a combined total of 99 reactions—and 27 of them were from Swim Creative employees and their families. Swim is contractually required to engage with their own posts.



The most recent post on Gotta Be Superior’s Facebook and Instagram pages was published on May 20, 2025—meaning that nearly two weeks have passed without any published posts whatsoever.

What does Swim say?

On June 2, 2025, Monitor Publisher John Ramos emailed members of the Tourism Development Commission, the Superior City Council, Superior Mayor Jim Paine, and Swim Creative President Patrice Bradley to share our findings and ask them for comment.

Other than Pattie Soliday advising us that her term on the TDC had expired, only Ms. Bradley has responded. She claims that Swim is fulfilling the terms of their contract:

Swim Creative is currently posting four times per week, in line with our 2025 contract with the City of Superior. This includes two Grid posts and two Stories per week, as outlined. Many of the Stories—which are often time-sensitive, event-driven, and promotional in nature—disappear after 24 hours, which may explain why they’re not visible in a typical post count review.

Our current contract focuses on repurposing existing content, not the creation of original or video content. Each month, we create and submit a social media content plan to the Tourism Development Commission (TDC), which guides the organic content strategy. These plans are followed closely. In rare cases where content from a partner business is delayed or unavailable, we adjust accordingly to maintain our posting frequency.

Swim Creative takes pride in our transparency, responsiveness, and creative quality. We consistently over-deliver on strategy, reach, and engagement, and our campaigns are achieving strong performance metrics. I’d be glad to set up a meeting to walk through our strategy and share benchmark reports, plans, and content calendars with you at any time.

Ramos replied:

Thank you for the response. Unfortunately, I feel it ignores reality.

I did not address Stories in my analysis, because those disappear quickly and were unavailable. Leaving Stories aside, however, you are still responsible for 2 Grid Posts per week. Simply counting up Facebook posts shows you have fallen short of this goal in every month of 2025.

In fact, the last post was on May 20—twelve days ago. You clearly failed to post two posts in that period. There are other weeks where you posted nothing as well.



I do not understand how you can claim to be meeting your goals when the evidence clearly shows you are not. Please convince me otherwise.

As of publication, we have received no further response.

The Tourism Development Commission is currently considering doubling Swim’s social media management contract to $3,500 per month, for which Swim would produce their own content for Facebook and Instagram (rather than simply publishing content supplied to them by the Gotta Be Superior team). The TDC discussed this proposed amendment to Swim’s 2025 contract at their meeting on May 5, 2025, but no action was taken on the matter. As of publication, no future Tourism Development Commission meetings have been scheduled.

955.

COMMENT #1

A lot to go over here so I’ll break it down by categories. I’m not here to defend or criticize Swim Creative. I don’t know anything about them other than the articles I have read pertaining to their relationship with the city. But since I write this Blog, I do know how the process works so I will focus on that. In the first paragraph it says:



“For $1,750 per month, Swim Creative was responsible for the “organic social media management” of the city’s tourism information bureau, Gotta Be Superior, from July to December of 2024.” 

I never heard of “organic social media management” so I Goggled it.

“Organic social media management refers to building a social media presence and growing an audience through unpaid strategies like creating and sharing valuable content, engaging with followers, and building relationships. It focuses on natural growth rather than relying on paid advertising to increase reach.”

956.

COMMENT # 2

Let’s talk about Facebook and Instagram. The following was in the article.

“Upon review, Swim does not appear to be fulfilling the terms of their 2025 contract. In the 21 weeks since the beginning of the year, Swim should have published 42 posts (2 posts per week) on each of Gotta Be Superior’s Facebook and Instagram pages, for a grand total of 84 posts. A review of Gotta Be Superior’s social media pages reveals that only 47 of the required 84 posts have been published since Jan. 1, 2025.”

Facebook and Instagram are free. When we owned Shorty’s and the Palace my wife did all the Facebook entries. I didn’t touch it at all. She told me that each entry took 10 to 30 minutes max. So my advice is why not a couple of city staff to do that chore. Over the year that wouldn’t take much time and save the city some money. I looked at their Facebook for “Gotta be Superior”. It’s fine. It’s not much different than most Facebook pages I look at including Shorty’s and the Palace.



There is one post they put up recently that I didn’t like, for obvious reasons, that involves “The Backstabbing Baker” Melissa Hyatt. Here it is.

Here is the post from Gotta Be Superior’s Facebook Page.

Gotta Be Superior is at A Dozen Excuses Donuts & More.

June 6, 2025 at 6:48 AM · Superior, WI· 

It’s National Donut Day, and Superior knows how to do a sweet treat!

Our recommendation today is a stop at locally delicious A Dozen Excuses Bakery (because you gotta celebrate a national holiday) .  

957.

MY COMMENT

958.

COMMENT # 3

Let’s talk about their website. Again it’s fine. Similar to many others in the market. Similar to ours in some respects. In the article Swim Creative said the following. 

Our current contract focuses on repurposing existing content, not the creation of original or video content. Each month, we create and submit a social media content plan to the Tourism Development Commission (TDC), which guides the organic content strategy. These plans are followed closely. In rare cases where content from a partner business is delayed or unavailable, we adjust accordingly to maintain our posting frequency. 

Reading this sounds a little bit mumble jumble to me. But if I am reading this right they are not creating content. It sounds about the same way my website works. I have a company called Designer 1 Media who put my website together back in 2023 and they post all my Blogs. Here is how it works.

1- I compose a blog and keep it on a file. It has the narrative and articles and shows where all the pictures or links need to go. When it’s done I have my wife proof it and then I send them a file with the pictures and a file with the narrative. 

2-I usually send it out first thing in the morning and I get the proof in the afternoon. My wife and I separately proof the Blog and send them an OK or corrections. After that they send me the link usually by 5PM then another company, Constant Contact then sends the emails to the readers who subscribe to it. My wife also posts the link on our Facebook page. 

3- My cost is 39.00 a month for one company and 35.00 a month for the other. I can do as many Blogs a month as I want. There is no extra charges. Here is a copy of my June invoice Designer 1 Media.

4-And that leads me to this. My total costs to take a file, program it, put it on a website and then email to you, the readers, is $74.00 a month. 

Then I read this from the story. Maybe I should get the contract. I’m sure little Jimmy and I would get along famously.

“The Tourism Development Commission is currently considering doubling Swim’s social media management contract to $3,500 per month, for which Swim would produce their own content for Facebook and Instagram (rather than simply publishing content supplied to them by the Gotta Be Superior team). The TDC discussed this proposed amendment to Swim’s 2025 contract at their meeting on May 5, 2025, but no action was taken on the matter. As of publication, no future Tourism Development Commission meetings have been scheduled.”

959.

COMMENTS# 4 

But the strangest part of this story is the following.

“In November of 2024, the Tourism Development Commission approved the renewal of Swim’s organic social media management contract for 2025 (using the $1,750 monthly rate from the 2024 contract). The City of Superior immediately paid Swim in full for the 2025 contract—$21,000.”

Why? Why did they do that? Why did that stupid City Council ever vote along with that idiot Paine to take away the tourism from the Chamber of Commerce in the first place? Now it’s just a big Shit Shower.

960.

COMMENTS# 5

And a big thumbs down (and a couple of middle fingers up) to “Not Tough on Crime” Mark Fruehauf, the elected District Attorney for Douglas County, Wisconsin.

MARK FRUEHAUF

961.

SLOGANS

I took the time to come up with some new slogans for the tourism board. You could consider this my resume.

NEW SLOGANS

1-Superior, where businesses come to die.

2-Superior, where our politicians don’t keep their word. Ask NTEC.

3-Gotta leave Superior.

4- Superior, commit a crime and do little time.

5- Superior, where bad guys are good and good guys are bad.



6-Superior, get out while you can.

7-Superior, where we endorse George Floyd, BLM and Indigenous People Day.

8- If you like corruption and nepotism, you’ll love Superior.

9-Superior, we even hate ice cream and apple pie.

10-Superior, no ethics commission, no ombudsmen, no accountability.

11-Superior, where keeping you safe is not priority # 1.

12- Superior, where mediocrity is rewarded and success is frowned upon.

13- Superior, where we have 2 seasons, bugs and winter.

14- Superior, where are property taxes are about 50% too high but the weather is free (for now).

15- Superior where if you are voted out of office, we’ll find you a way back in.

16- Superior, where your dreams become nightmares.

17- Superior, where we recycle…….defeated politicians.

18- Superior, where our population drops annually...and for good reason.

19- Superior, where we celebrate apathy, poor choices and bad decisions.

20-Superior, build your business here...and we’ll tear it down.

21- Superior, “If it ain’t broke we’ll break it”.

22- “Gotta Be Superior” or as Jim Paine calls it, “Gotta Take Over Superior.”

23- Superior, where Jim Paine says, “we are considering just taking on the water utility ourselves. We know we can run it more efficiently”.

24-Superior, where Jim Paine says, “Because we help citizens. That is our only purpose. When citizens, businesses, or developers need help, we do everything we can”.

25-Superior, We don’t have a king, but we do have a dictator.

AND MY FAVORITE

26- Superior, one our city councilors is “Spuds MacKenzie.”

A PALACE BAR TRUTH EXCLUSIVE!!!

ME (ENTREPRENEUR) VS PAINE (POLITICIAN)

#1

When I was a little boy I wanted to be a policeman.

#2

When I was a little boy I wanted to be a fireman.

#3

When I was a little boy I wanted to be a cowboy.

#4

When I was a little boy I used to go to mass every Sunday with my parents and I wanted to be a priest.

#5

When I was little boy I wanted to work for my dad’s sporting good store and someday take it over.

#6

When I was a little boy I did not want to play sports on the girls team.

 COMMENTS

963. Consider this next time you go to vote. Do you want somebody who has accomplishments in the real world. People who have owned their own companies or have worked in executive positions and have achieved certain levels of success. 

964. Well, that’s it for today. In the meantime, safe travels. Just not in Superior. See you next time and thanks for reading.

Brian