For the Good of the Order

End of Season Hours for the Marion Pool
All good things must come to an end. The Marion Pool will close for the season on Sunday, Aug. 31. From Aug. 25-31, only lap swim will be offered daily from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. On Aug. 30-31, open swimming will occur from 1-5 p.m. Thank you for a great summer!

Outdoor Aquatics Park Survey Results
The City partnered with Community Perceptions, an independent research firm, to gather confidential feedback and help the City Council determine whether or not to pursue a referendum in November. Surveys were mailed to every household in Marion in early July. Residents had until July 28, 2025 to respond. The survey received 3,240 responses, representing a 17.5% response rate from invited households, with a +/- 1.76% margin of error. Respondents represented a broad range of ages, with the largest participation from residents aged 65+ (40%), followed by those 55-64 years old (18%) and 35-44 years old (17%). View a report of the results. The results were shared with City Council on Aug. 19. City Council will deliberate on referendum ballot language on Sept. 2. If approved, a vote will be on the Nov. 4 ballot for public vote.

Marion and Monarch Research Offer Free Right-of-Way Trees
The City of Marion and Monarch Research are pleased to offer another community-wide tree-planting program for residents. The primary goal of the initiative is to provide residents with native Iowa trees to plant in the right-of-way along City streets adjacent to their property. Marion residents and landowners who commit to planting, watering and protecting the trees as they become established can register online for up to three free, 3-gallon trees provided by Monarch Research. Program registration is currently open and will remain open through Saturday, Sept. 13, at www.cityofmarion.org. Please register early to secure your tree selection and join us in planting forward, together! 

Overnight Painting to Continue Next Week
Crews will be working overnight to paint crosswalks and stop bars in Marion next week. They will be working from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. to take advantage of lower traffic volumes and to minimize disruptions for drivers. The work zones will be clearly marked and crews will wear reflective clothing. Please be vigilant and slow down in the active work zones.

29th Avenue Construction Complete
Good news! Earlier this week, crews completed the crack sealing and pavement markings on 29th Avenue as part of the 2025 Pavement Patching Project. 29th Avenue is now open to traffic. Thank you for your patience and understanding during this temporary road closure.

Work Continues on 35th Street
Partial depth patching and diamond grinding operations on 35th Street were completed this week. Work will now transition to crack sealing and pavement markings. Traffic control will shift periodically during this time to allow work to progress. Project completion is anticipated by Aug. 27, weather permitting. 

Boyson Road Construction Update
This afternoon, Friday, Aug. 22, crews are expected to complete Phase 1 of the Boyson Road Patching Project and switch traffic control to Phase 2. Phase 1 included over 2,000 square yards of full depth patches, 1,600 square feet of partial depth patches, 92 cross-stitched tie bars, diamond grinding of the pavement surface, crack sealing and pavement markings. Phase 2 will close Boyson Road from Alburnett Road to Central Avenue. The current detour, which uses C Avenue, Tower Terrace Road and Alburnett Road will remain in place with specific modifications for Phase 2. Residents on Timber Oak Court and in the Bowman Meadows subdivision will have access from the west via Bowman Meadows Drive during Phase 2. Phase 2 is expected to last 4 weeks, weather permitting.

Asphalt Overlay Program Continues
On Thursday, Aug. 21, crews from LL Pelling began work on the 11th Street parking lot south of 8th Avenue. Work is expected to be completed this afternoon, with the parking lot reopening on Saturday morning after sufficient cool time is achieved for the asphalt. Additionally, crews from LL Pelling began work on 14th Street from 8th Avenue to 12th Avenue, as well as on 9th Avenue from 14th Street to 18th Street. During this time, 14th Street and 9th Avenue will be closed to through traffic. Work is expected to last two weeks, weather permitting. 

Safe Routes to School Update
The City has been working with the Safe Routes to School (SRTS) committee to establish priorities for new sidewalks and crosswalks throughout Marion. The goal is to enhance pedestrian safety for students heading to school. The committee will present recommendations to City Council on Sept. 19 to gather feedback before developing a phased plan and budget. The proposed plan will be presented during the FY27 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) process.

Take a Spin on a Library Trike
The weather is still nice, which means it’s a great time to check out a bike from the Marion Public Library. The Book-A-Bike program gives patrons the opportunity to check out one of two electric-assisted tricycles for use within Marion city limits. Borrowers must be 18 years of age or older to check out and ride the bikes, and must have a library card in good standing. For more information and a full list of guidelines, visit marionpubliclibrary.org/bikes.

Spark in the Park Multicultural Festival Happening in September
On Sunday, Sept. 7, Yenko will host its second annual Spark in the Park Multicultural Festival. This free event will take place at the Klopfenstein Amphitheater at Lowe Park from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Enjoy international food samplings, yoga, cultural performances, a fashion show and more! All are welcome to participate to ignite wellness and celebrate culture. For more information visit: yenko.org.

Fall Into Marion Parade Returns to Uptown Marion
For the third year, the City of Marion is pleased to host the Fall Into Marion Parade sponsored by Farmers State Bank. It will take place on Saturday, Sept. 13, at 10 a.m. Both Marion and Linn-Mar High School marching bands plan to participate, along with a variety of nonprofits and area businesses. Floats are encouraged and prizes will be awarded. To sign up to participate, please visit www.cityofmarion.org/fallintomarion and register online by Sept. 9. Registration is $40 for for-profit organizations and $5 for all others. We look forward to a great celebration of community!

Emergency Response Survey
Linn County Emergency Management is looking for input via a survey to gather data to be used in improving evacuation plans for both man-made and natural disasters. The purpose of the survey is to identify local behavior during emergency situations with no prior warning, such as a wildfire, chemical spill or radiological event. Responses will greatly contribute to local emergency preparedness. Please complete only one survey per household between now and Sept. 5, 2025.

Regional Transportation Investments and Priorities Survey
The Iowa Department of Transportation (IDOT) is requesting the public weigh-in on Iowa’s long-range transportation plan (LRTP). This plan will help guide future transportation funding decisions and build a plan for Iowa roads, bridges, trails, railroads and more. To participate, please complete the online survey. Comments must be received by Aug. 31, 2025. To learn more, visit www.iowadot.gov.  

New Faces in New Places
On Monday, Aug. 25, Amber Justeen-Peterson will be joining the Marion Public Library as a part-time patron services team member. She was previously a volunteer with the Friends of the Marion Public Library and is a licensed massage therapist. Welcome aboard, Amber.

Also on Monday, please join us in welcoming Ronn Christy as a police officer with the Marion Police Department. He comes to us from the Anamosa Police Department. We look forward to working with you, Ronn!

Word on the Street

• Where will the mobile traffic camera be stationed next week?
  Between Aug. 19-23, the mobile speed enforcement vehicle will be located in the 1400 block of 10th Street, southbound. Between, Aug. 25-29, it will be located in the 5400 block of Kacena Avenue, westbound.

Upcoming Events

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

• Friday, Aug. 22 – Pop-Up Acts in the Artway featuring Nick Stika – 6-8 p.m.  
• Friday, Aug. 22 – Movies on the Move featuring Wicked – 7:30 p.m. – Hanna Park
• Saturday, Aug. 23 – Sunrise Yoga – 7:30 a.m. – Lowe Park
• Saturday, Aug. 23 – Marion Farmers Market & City Council Office Hours – 8-11 a.m.– Willowood Park
• Saturday, Aug. 23 – Summer Rock Series featuring Funk Stop – 7 p.m. – Uptown Artway
• Thursday, Aug. 28 – Uptown Getdown featuring All Natural – 6-9 p.m. – Central Plaza at City Square 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
• Meeting with Craig Adamson
• YMCA golf outing
• Russell networking event
• Meeting with Bob Gaffney
• Young Parents Network Board meeting

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