Friendly Reminders
Hydrant Flushing Underway
Employees of the Marion Water Department started flushing the water system on Tuesday, April 12 and will continue through mid-May, if necessary. Flushing typically begins around 8 a.m. and may continue through 2 a.m. Flushing hydrants is an important preventive maintenance activity that verifies the proper operation of the City’s fire hydrants, ensures adequate water flow and removes sediment that naturally accumulates in water mains.
City Offices Closed on Friday
Marion City Hall and other City offices will be closed tomorrow Friday, April 15. Regular business hours resume on Monday, April 18. Police, Fire and other critical City services will continue to be provided. Marion Public Library locations will be open on Friday, April 15 but closed on Sunday, April 17 in observance of Easter. Garbage and recycling will be collected according to the normal schedule. The Public Services office and Yard Waste Facility will be closed on Friday, April 15. The Recycling Drop-off Center and Yard Waste Facility, both located at 195 35th Street, will maintain normal hours of operation from 8 a.m.-to 4:15 p.m. on Saturday. Utility payments will be accepted online or via the drive-up drop box located outside the Marion Water Department office at 3050 5th Avenue.
Parks and Recreation Department Hiring Seasonal Employees
If you plan to get together with friends or family members over the weekend and summer jobs are a topic of conversation - subtly suggest working for the Marion Parks and Recreation Department! They are looking for concession stand workers, recreation assistants, seasonal aides, an intern and more. Find the specifics and a full list of the open positions with the City of Marion at www.cityofmarion.org/employment.
For the Good of the Order
FEMA Assistance Update
In a positive turn of events, the City is now expecting 100% reimbursement of derecho cleanup costs at the State and Federal levels. Eligible costs that the City incurred and submitted to FEMA total approximately $29 million to date. On April 7, the City received notice from Homeland Security that FEMA is adjusting its cost-share as outlined in H.R. 2471, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022 which was signed into law by President Biden. The legislation grants a minimum federal cost share of 90% for any emergency or major disaster declaration that occurred in 2020 and 2021. As a result, the federal cost-share for the derecho has been adjusted from 75% to 90%. The State has also confirmed that its share is still 10%. Prior to this change, the City was expected to absorb 15% of the cleanup cost, at least $4 million.
Council to Consider Updates to Housing Inspection Program
City Council will be considering updates to the Marion Housing Code Plans of Inspection and the Housing Code Table of Fees during a public hearing on April 21, 2022. Most of the changes are related to licensing, enforceability and information sharing among City departments. A number of the fees were lowered, a rescheduling fee was added and a multi-unit inspection fee increased $5 per unit. The proposed documents are available for viewing at www.cityofmarion.org/rentalhousinginfo. Questions may be directed to the Rental Housing Division of the Community Development Department at 319-200-1299.
Urban Forestry Utility Fund
As presented in the FY23 budget, there will be no fee increase associated with the Urban Forestry fund. However, there will be a change to how the fee is charged to multi-family dwellings. As proposed, instead of charging the fee by meter, the fee will be charged by dwelling unit to ensure that every household is covering the fee. The resolution will go before City Council in June and any changes to the process would go into effect on July 1, 2022.
Public Services Facility Demolition
On April 7, 2022, City Council approved a contract with Schrader Excavating for the demolition of the new Public Service Maintenance Facility located at 4127 3rd Avenue in Marion. During the August 10, 2020 derecho, the steel structure and foundation systems were severely damaged due to excessive wind loads. Preliminary engineering and architectural analysis have since been completed that will allow for the steel structure to be removed. Schrader Excavating has mobilized and is on-site initiating work on the project. The demolition is scheduled to be completed by the end of May 2022. This is the first step in the reconstruction process for the facility which is scheduled to be complete in the fall of 2023.
RAISE Grant Application – Tower Terrace Road Project
A joint application with Marion, Hiawatha, Robins, Cedar Rapids and Linn County will be submitted for a $25 million request to fund all sections of Tower Terrace Road not already funded from I-380 to IA-13. Three bridges are included as part of the request and the total project cost is over $50 million. Nearly 100 letters of support were received in support of this application. Thank you to our economic development partners, school districts, businesses and others who supported this effort.
Community Project Funding (CPF) Application – Alburnett Road Extension
The City of Marion is submitting an application to Congresswoman Ashely Hinson and asking that the Alburnett Road Extension be selected as one of the 15 Community Project Funding initiatives that she can designate. The request is for $7 million of the $12 million project that includes the extension of Alburnett Road north and south between Boyson Road and Marion Boulevard. If this project is selected out of the group submitted, it will then have to be approved with an accompanying bill and the appropriations to fund it. Projects that were funded last year can be found here.
31st Street to Close between 5th and 7th Avenues on Monday
A full street closure of 31st Street between 5th Ave and 7th Avenues will begin on Monday, April 18. The closure will be in place for approximately one week for storm sewer and water service work to occur that is associated with the Kwik Star facility currently under construction. A detour will be posted. Access to the American Legion will be from the north, the full street closure will occur south of their driveway.
Work Begins on the Indian Creek Trail
You may have noticed some tree clearing happening along Central Avenue. This is for the Indian Creek Trail project. Work has begun on this new trail that will connect Donnelly Park to Tower Terrace Road along Indian Creek. Sign up to receive future updates for this project and other Engineering Department project updates at www.cityofmarion.org/enotify.
Retirement Reception Honoring Deb Krebill Planned for April 22
Please join us for a retirement reception honoring Fire Chief Deb Krebill and her more than 30-year career with the Marion Fire Department. The open house will take place on Friday, April 22 from 2-4 p.m. at Fire Station No. 1, 100 Irish Dr., Marion. Light refreshments will be served and a brief program is planned for 3 p.m.
New Faces in New Places
Zachary Vislisel is joining Team Marion on Monday, April 18. Zach has been hired as an equipment operator in the Public Services Department. He comes to us from the U.S. Army Reserves where he served as a heavy equipment operator. Thank you for your service, Zach, and welcome to Marion!
Please congratulate Chuck Whited on his promotion to right-of-way technician for the City of Marion. This is a new position for the City in the Engineering Department. Chuck was previously in the Public Services Department and will start his new position on Monday, April 18. Congrats, Chuck!
Future Project Updates
Here’s a look at the tentative agenda containing a list of several items that will be coming before City Council in the weeks ahead.
On the Docket
The following are a few major activities on my calendar for the coming week:
- Serving as a guest speaker at the Cedar Rapids Area Association of Realtors meeting
- Gazette Editorial Board meeting
- Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Discussion with City departments
- Meeting with James Klein with CR Bank & Trust
- Meeting with Luxair to discuss Airport safety protocols
- Introductory meeting with Susie Weinacht
Original source can be found here.
Alerts Sign-up