For the Good of the Order
Marion Makes its Case in Washington, DC
This week, members of Team Marion and Hiawatha made their way to Washington, DC to meet with Congresswoman Hinson and Senators Ernst and Grassley and other metro partners joined virtually. The purpose of the visit was to rally support for the $25 million RAISE grant request to fund the remaining sections of Tower Terrace Road yet to be built between I-380 to IA-13. Completion of this project will improve existing infrastructure, expand access and connectivity, increase motorist safety and advance the overall sustainability and efficiency of the region.
While there, Mayor Nick AbouAssaly and City Engineer Mike Barkalow received word that Marion’s $7 million request to extend Alburnett Road was included in Congresswoman Hinson’s Community Project Funding allocations. Each member of Congress can submit 15 eligible projects to receive funding in Fiscal Year 2023. The Alburnett Road Extension project would allow the City of Marion to construct a north-south corridor that will significantly improve safety and efficiency for motorists and pedestrians. It will alleviate congestion, accommodate and encourage continued growth and decrease response time for first responders. This is the first step in the funding approval process, but a positive one for Marion.
7th Avenue Reconstruction & Streetscape Update
The 8th Avenue and 10th Street intersection reopened to traffic this morning. The water service work has been completed in the intersection and the concrete patches have had time to cure. Thank you for your patience during this closure. The contractor finished subgrade preparations on the closed section of 10th Street this week and installed the rock subbase. Paving will begin soon and is expected to occur over the next couple of weeks. Project updates are provided every other week, if you wish to receive them directly in your inbox, sign up at www.cityofmarion.org/enotify.
Marion Cares awarded Low & Moderate Income Housing Assistance Grant
The Marion Civil Rights Commission recently sought grant applications from organizations that work to serve Marion residents and provide programs that help those who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. In May, Marion Cares was awarded $20,000 from the Civil Rights Low to Moderate Income Housing Grant to support their efforts in addressing housing instability in the community.Congratulations Marion Cares – thank you for the important work you do in our community.
Marion Arts Festival Street Closures
After two years as a virtual event, the Marion Arts Festival returns this Saturday, May 21. Please be aware that there will be some localized road closures in Uptown to accommodate the festival. Seventh Avenue between 10th and 12th Streets and 10th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues are currently closed and will remain closed until 8 p.m. on Saturday. The half marathon and 5K races will begin at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday. Traffic may be impacted until approximately 11 a.m. along the race route. Members of the Marion Police Department will be on hand to assist runners and motorists as they navigate area roadways, and travelers will see intermittent closures depending on the number of runners passing by. Please be safe and plan accordingly.
Online Code Now Available
As part of the City’s overall efforts to improve services for our residents, we recently partnered with General Code to provide an easy-to-navigate system for viewing and accessing the Code of Ordinances online. This platform will be updated quarterly as ordinances are approved. Previously the information lived on the City website as a PDF document. Now it is embedded in our website as a fully searchable database. Access the code at www.cityofmarion.org/citycode.
Military Tribute Banners being Installed – Map Coming Soon
For the last five years, the City of Marion has partnered with the Marion Chamber and Uptown Marion organizations to provide residents and businesses with the opportunity to honor someone who has served in the military. The Public Services Department is in the process of installing the 2021/2022 military tribute banners. Once they are all in place, a map of the 111 banner locations will be created and shared. The map will be distributed by next Friday at the latest. Nearly 300 veterans and military personnel with ties to Marion have been honored in the first five years of the program.
We’re Hiring
The City of Marion is a great place to work! If you’re looking for a highly-collaborative team where you can learn and grow while making a positive impact in the community – look no further. We offer competitive pay and a benefits package that includes health and dental insurance, a retirement plan, tuition reimbursement, vacation, sick and holiday pay, and more. Current full-time openings include administrative assistant (City Hall), accounting associate, patron services manager (Library), 911 communications operator, entry-level police officer, deputy city manager, fire chief and equipment operator. Find a full listing of both full and part-time opportunities at www.cityofmarion.org/employment.
New Faces in New Places
Please help welcome Thomas Doyle to Team Marion. Thomas will be joining us on Monday, May 23 as our first environmental specialist within the Engineering Department. He’s coming from the University of Iowa where he graduated with an M.S. in Earth and Environmental Science degree. Congratulations Thomas, we’re excited for you to join the team!
Upcoming Events
Marion is the place to be this Saturday with the return of the 30th Annual Marion Arts Festival in City Square Park, the Marion Arts & Craft Beer Fest happening in the Uptown Artway and Great American Kites happening at the PeeWee Diamonds at Lowe Park. In addition, the weekly Marion Farmers Market returns to Taube Park.
Future Project Updates
Here’s a look at the tentative agenda containing a list of several items that will be coming before the City Council in the weeks ahead.
On the Docket
The following are a few of the major activities on my calendar for the coming week:
- Lunch with Annette Perry of West End
- Introductory meeting with Willett Hofmann
- Meeting with Terry Sullivan of Linn County REC
- Presentation to students at Echo Hill Elementary
- Guest Speaker at Marion Noon Lions Club
- Meeting with Les Garner
- Marion Chamber Board meeting
Sign up to receive this weekly newsletter and other updates from the City of Marion directly in your inbox by visiting www.cityofmarion.org/enotify.
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