A Weekly Update From City Manager Ryan Waller

Marion IA

11 April, 2022

2:20 PM

Description

Press release from the City of Marion: April 8, 2022 Eastbound Traffic to be Impacted at 8th Avenue/10th Street Intersection On Monday, April 11, Rathje Construction will begin the water main work for Phase 2 of the 7th Avenue Reconstruction and Streetscape Project. During this work, eastbound 8th Avenue will be diverted to the center turn lanes at 10th Street. This diversion of eastbound 8th Avenue traffic is expected to last 7-10 days, weather permitting. Hydrant Flushing to Begin Tuesday Employees of the Marion Water Department plan to begin flushing the water system beginning 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 to Close Next Friday Marion City Hall and other City offices will be closed on 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.-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. Employees Participate in Coffee Talk Conversations This week we kicked off our first Coffee Talk meeting among City employees. These informal get-togethers provide an opportunity for getting to know me and three to five other randomly selected teammates over coffee. The initial group included representatives of the Police, Water, IT and Engineering departments. We shared candid conversations about things that are going well, things that might be bothersome and other pertinent topics of interest. Thank you to Adam, Janice, William and Steve for your feedback and ideas around communication, recruitment strategies, team building and culture as we emerge from the pandemic. These visits, with a new cross-section of employees, are something I will look forward to each month. Parks and Recreation Department Hiring Seasonal Employees Who's ready for those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer?! I think we all are! How about a job that doesn't feel like a job? Enjoy some fun in the sun working with 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 Come join a winning team! City Seeking Hotel/Motel Grant Applications The City of Marion is now accepting grant applications from any non-profit organization for projects that increases tourism within Marion. The funding source for these grants is the City's share of taxes collected on overnight stays at hotels and motels within the city. Approximately $175,000 is expected to be available for the competitive grant program in the 2022-2023 fiscal year. Award allocations are expected during the June 16 City Council meeting. Healthy Kids Day & City Showcase Planned for April 30 For 30 years, the YMCA's Healthy Kids Day has celebrated kids' mental and physical health while teaching healthy habits for youth and families, encouraging active play and inspiring a lifetime love of physical activity. This year, Healthy Kids Day will be held in conjunction with Marion's City Showcase. Between 9 a.m.-noon on Saturday, April 30, there will be dozens of free, hands-on activities for the entire family to enjoy at the Marion YMCA & Community Rec Center, 3701 Irish Drive. Kids will have a chance to get up close to various City vehicles, watch a K9 demonstration and win prizes. There will also be games, storytime, fitness demonstrations and giveaways. The first 100 attendees will have the opportunity to take home a 3-gallon tree. My family and I look forward to being part of the fun, as well and hope to meet several of you that day. Marion Fire Department Hosts Regional Training The Marion Fire Department hosted its first regional training session at the new headquarters for the department this week. The three-day class, "Five Alarm Leadership," was provided through Columbia Southern University and was led by instructors Chief Rick Lasky and Chief John Salka. Sixty-seven participants came to Marion from cities/counties in Wisconsin, Nebraska, Iowa and even Arkansas. Kudos to Marion Fire for showing them some Marion hospitality. Residents Give High Marks to Quality of Life in Community Survey During this week's City Council work session, the results of Marion's 2021 National Community Survey were shared with Council. It revealed that more than 9 out of 10 residents rated Marion as a good or excellent place to live; more than 9 out of 10 residents said Marion is a good or excellent place to raise children and more than 9 out of 10 residents said they'd recommend living in Marion to a friend. In addition to giving high marks to the quality of life and a strong sense of safety, the survey noted that utility infrastructure is a priority for residents. While several aspects of Marion's economy have shown improvement since 2019, the economy is still a focus for residents. Health and wellness services continue to be an asset for Marion and mobility presents another area of opportunity. The data will be used to inform an update to the City's strategic plan as well as the budget cycle and departmental work plans. Reminders about Waste Receptacles and the Wind No matter the weather conditions, our crews are out five days a week collecting garbage, recycling and yard waste (when in season). They stop at approximately 2,500 houses each day. When the wind is blowing as much as it has been lately, please remember to put the lids on your receptacles to keep debris from littering your neighborhood. This will alleviate issues not only for our crews but for your neighbors too. If your recycling bin isn't large enough, the Public Services Department does offer a 32-gallon container for $20. An additional rectangular 18-gallon container can be purchased for $11. Four Firefighters Take the Oath of Office During last night's City Council meeting, we celebrated with four of Marion's newest firefighters. Logan Ludwig, Dustin Berning, Drew Haag and Joe Westendorf completed their first year as Marion firefighters during the pandemic. They took the Oath of Office and received their new badges with their friends, family members and co-workers looking on. Congratulations guys - thanks for all you do to keep Marion safe! Kudos to Janet Perschek in Engineering Earlier this week a resident contacted the Engineering Department to express his thanks and appreciation. When a contractor caused damage to his driveway and the right-of way, he connected with Janet Perschek in the Engineering Department. She was polite, personable and efficient when working with the company and inspectors to resolve the issue. Way to reach higher, Janet! Props to the Public Services Department Another resident took the time to reach out and commend the work of our Public Services Department. He noticed that they spent a good amount of time clearing the dome drain in a waterway, allowing all the stormwater to drain from the last couple of weeks. They also cleaned up all the trash that was around the area and it has never looked better. That's community pride shining through. My thanks to all who had a hand in this effort! 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. The following are a few major activities on my calendar for the coming week: This press release was produced by the City of Marion. The views expressed here are the author's own.