For the Good of the Order

Police Chief Candidate Reception Planned for July 9
Marion residents and members of the business community are invited to a public reception on Wednesday, July 9, to meet the four finalists interviewing to be Marion’s next chief of police. The open house will take place at the Lowe Park Arts & Environment Center, located at 4500 N. 10th Street from 6-7:30 p.m. One internal candidate and three external candidates will be interviewed to lead the department of 48 sworn officers, 10 dispatchers and six civilian employees. The finalists, in alphabetical order, include Chad Nott, Douglas Riniker, Jeremy Sprague and Schonella Stewart. The open house will be held as a come-and-go format with no formal presentations. 

Independence Day Holiday Hours
Marion City Hall and other City offices will be closed on Friday, July 4, in observance of the Independence Day holiday. Regular business hours resume on Monday, July 7. Due to the holiday, the City Council work session and regular session meetings have been combined and will be held on Tuesday, July 1 at 4 p.m. Garbage, recycling and yard waste collection will be delayed by one day for Friday routes. Collection will take place on Saturday instead. The Yard Waste Facility is also closed on Friday, with regular business hours resuming on Saturday. On July 3 and July 4, the Marion Pool will be open for lap swim from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and open swim from 1-5 p.m. The Marion Public Library will be open from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on July 3 and closed on Thursday, July 4. The bookmobile will not run on Friday, July 4.

Central Plaza Water Feature Activated
There's a new water feature in town and it's ready to help you beat the summer heat. You can find the dancing fountain in the Central Plaza at City Square Park, 1001 7th Avenue. The recirculating system will run daily from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Check it out!!

Reminder about Fireworks Rules
In accordance with State law, consumer fireworks are only allowed to be launched in Marion on July 3, from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., and July 4, from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. this time of year. Fireworks may be purchased and used only by persons 18 years of age or older, and used only with the property owner’s permission. Fireworks may NOT be used in public parks. Any other dates and times are authorized by permit only. The use of fireworks outside of the designated dates and times is considered a nuisance in Marion’s code. Property owners allowing fireworks to be discharged on their property outside of the established dates/times may be subject to citation for a municipal infraction. The fees for a municipal infraction are $750 for the first infraction and $1,000 for each subsequent infraction. Residents can report fireworks usage outside of the permissible dates by calling the Marion Police Department's non-emergency line at 319-377-1511.

Roundabout Reminders
Roundabouts are engineered to maximize safety and minimize traffic delays. Here are a few helpful reminders for navigating multi-lane roundabouts:

• As you approach a multi-lane roundabout, slow down to the advisory speed (15 mph) and prepare to stop if necessary.
• Safely maneuver into the appropriate lane well in advance of the intersection. Lane-use signs will show which lanes can be used for different turns.
• Do not change lanes within the roundabout. As with any other type of intersection, you must be in the proper lane before entering.
• When you reach your desired exit point, signal as appropriate and simply proceed out of the roundabout towards your desired direction of travel.

Learn more through this video courtesy of the Iowa Department of Transportation.

Road Construction Updates
Road construction season is upon us! As always, slow down in construction zones and watch for workers. Stay up-to-date on these and other projects by subscribing to the Engineering Department’s project newsletter. 

Line Striping Underway
Crews are working on line striping the roads in Marion. In addition to the painting equipment itself, there will be two follow trucks and cones placed to make you aware of the potential for wet paint. Please be patient if you see them painting and give them room to work.

Fireworks & Fireflies is Happening on July 3
On Thursday, July 3, Marion will host its 6th annual Fireworks & Fireflies celebration. This free event will take place at the Klopfenstein Amphitheater at Lowe Park beginning at 6 p.m. Enjoy live music by the Ice Breakers starting at 7 p.m. Food trucks, face painting and a grand fireworks finale will round out the event. Organizers are pleased to welcome Conlon Construction as the event’s presenting sponsor. The Red-level sponsors are the Marion Chamber of Commerce, Mediacom, Corda Credit Union and the City of Marion. Attendees can bring lawn chairs, blankets and coolers. Patrons are asked to leave pets, sparklers, fireworks and pop-up tents at home. Free shuttles to Lowe Park from the Linn-Mar High School parking lot will be available starting at 6 p.m. Additional details, including a list of FAQs and a parking map, are available at cityofmarion.org/fireworks.

Eat. Drink. & Be Marion: Pub Crawl Fundraiser
Uptown Marion will host its 11th annual Eat. Drink. & Be Marion: Food & Pub Crawl Fundraiser on Thursday, July 10, 2025, from 6:30-9:30 p.m. With a ticket, you will receive a complimentary glass, t-shirt and exclusive deals from participating businesses in the Uptown Marion District. Also, enjoy live entertainment, $1 bar specials, food samples and extended shopping hours as you walk to each participating establishment. Ticket proceeds benefit the ongoing revitalization and beautification efforts of Uptown Marion – A Main Street Iowa District. Must be 21 years or older to participate. Early bird ticket pricing is available for $50/person until July 4. For more information visit: UptownMarion.com.

Heat Relief Locations for Marion Residents
As temperatures rise, the Marion Fire Department encourages residents to check on neighbors, family members and friends who are especially vulnerable to high heat indices due to age, medical or other conditions. Anyone seeking a break from the heat is welcome at any of the following air-conditioned heat relief locations in Marion. Each location is available the following days and times during periods of extreme temperatures:

• Marion Public Library, 1101 6th Avenue, Marion [M-Th, 9 a.m.-8 p.m., F-Sa, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Su, 1-5 p.m.]
• Thomas Park Safe Room, 343 Marion Boulevard, Marion [M-F, 7 a.m.-4 p.m.]
• Lowe Park Arts & Environment Center, 4500 N. 10th Street, Marion [M-Sa, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.]
• Marion City Hall Lobby, 1225 6th Avenue, Marion [M-F, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.]
• Marion Police Department Lobby, 6315 Highway 151, Marion [M-F, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.]

A list of other Linn County heat relief centers is available through Linn County Emergency Management or may be obtained by calling 2-1-1.

Vacancies on Linn County Crime Stoppers Board
Linn County Crime Stoppers is a non-profit organization that allows residents to report crime, maintain anonymity, and if their information leads to an arrest, could lead to a financial reward. They are focused on facilitating engagement between community members and local law enforcement agencies. The board of directors is comprised of residents from Cedar Rapids, Hiawatha, Marion, Mt. Vernon/Lisbon, Robins and Linn County. The City was notified of three vacancies on the board that are reserved for Marion residents. If you have an interest in serving, please complete an application and return to the address listed on the form.

• When will the bike trail along Indian Creek, north of 8th Avenue, be paved?
  The trail paving from the Milwaukee Road bridge to the Donnelly Park bridge is under contract with Rathje Construction. There is currently no start date, but we expect work to begin in August, with a complete date set for Nov. 14, 2025.

• Is the City still reviewing parking on both sides of residential streets?
  The City adopted a policy in February 2023 to address parking on streets that are less than 26 feet wide. Residential streets that are between 21-25 feet wide will be reduced to parking on one side of the street only. The project was broken up into phases to address certain areas of town. The first two areas of town were addressed in 2023 and 2024, with this year’s focus including cul-de-sacs throughout the city. Staff will make a recommendation to Council later this fall regarding the next area of town to implement the new policy. Residents are encouraged to keep an eye on meeting agendas for the recommendation. Additionally, residents will receive a letter in the mail notifying them of any change to their street.

• Where will the mobile traffic camera be stationed next week?
  Between June 27 and July 1, the mobile speed enforcement vehicle will be located in the 700-block of Barrington Parkway, westbound. Between July 3-7, the mobile speed enforcement vehicle will be located in the 1500-block of 50th Street, southbound.

Upcoming Events

Here’s a look at what’s happening in Marion:

• Friday, June 27 – Pop-Up Acts in the Artway featuring Lucas Blekeberg – 6-8 p.m. – Uptown Artway
• Friday, June 27 – Movies on the Move featuring The Fall Guy – 8:30 p.m. – Lininger Park
• Saturday, June 28 – Sunrise Yoga – 7:30 a.m. – Lowe Park
• Saturday, June 28 – Marion Farmers Market & City Council Office Hours – 8-11 a.m.– Willowood Park
• Saturday, June 28 – Indian Creek Clean Up – 9 a.m.-noon – Thomas Park
• Tuesday, July 1 – Marion Community Band – 7-9 p.m. – Thomas Park
• Thursday, July 3 – Fireworks and Fireflies presented by Conlon Construction – 6-11 p.m. – Lowe Park

Here’s an overview of several items that will be coming before the City Council in the weeks ahead.

The following are a few of the major activities on my calendar for the coming week:

• Internal meetings
• City Council Meeting
• Scheduled time out of the office
• Fireworks and Fireflies event
• Offices closed on July 4 in observance of the Independence Day holiday

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