For the Good of the Order

FY 27-31 Capital Improvement Program Budget Development Underway
The City is currently preparing the budget for FY 26-27, and Team Marion is working to outline funding priorities and allocate resources for key public services. As part of the process, departments submitted proposals for capital improvement projects to be added to the 5-year Capital Improvement Program.  At the Nov. 18 City Council Work Session, staff provided City Council with a recommended listing of projects to be added. City Council will review the list over the coming month and will provide its feedback at the Dec. 16 City Council meeting. The feedback from the December meeting will then be used to formulate a recommendation as part of the annual budget work session on Jan. 30, when City Council will be able to provide additional feedback in advance of the formal adoption expected in April. All City Council meetings are open to the public and residents are encouraged to attend and stay informed on the City’s budget process.

City Offices to Close in Observance of Thanksgiving 
Marion City Hall and other City offices will be closed Thursday, Nov. 27, and Friday, Nov. 28, in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday. Police and fire and other critical City services will continue to be provided. Garbage, recycling and yard waste will not be collected on Thanksgiving Day and pick-up will be delayed by a day for both Thursday and Friday routes. The final day for curbside yard waste collection in 2025 will be Saturday, Nov. 29. The Marion Public Library will close at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 26, and will remain closed on Thursday, Nov. 27, and Friday, Nov. 28. Regular hours resume on Saturday, Nov. 29. Utility payments will be accepted online or via the drop box located outside the Marion Water Department office, located at 3050 5th Avenue.

Recycling Center to Open at 1 p.m. on Nov. 25
Marion's Recycling Drop-Off Center will open one hour later than usual next Tuesday, due to a team meeting. It will be open from 1-5:45 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 25. 

Latest Marion Messenger Hits Mailboxes
Check those mailboxes! The latest edition of the Marion Messenger should hit in the next day or two. Here’s a look at the digital version. We are also proud to partner with the Marion Independent and Linn-Mar school districts to include their Pride & Pack insert. Another great partnership and one more example of Team Marion at work.

Marion's Community Survey Closes on Nov. 26
Your input is critical to a healthy and thriving community, and we want to hear from you! Every other year, the City partners with The National Community Survey to gain insight on how the City is assisting residents, and where there is room for improvement. The 2025 survey is now available to all residents at polco.us/Marion2025. It will likely take 15-20 minutes of your time. If you received a postcard and survey in the mail as part of the random sample, and have already responded to the survey invitation, we ask that you please do not respond twice. The online survey will be open through Nov. 26, 2025.

Pink Friday Happening Nov. 21
Uptown Marion is ready to kick off the holiday shopping season with Pink Friday this Friday, Nov. 21. Many of Marion's retailers are offering specials and extended hours, giving you a great chance to shop small before Black Friday. Pick up a Pink Friday Passport at any participating business, collect three stamps with your purchases, and drop it off at any participating location for a chance to win a raffle basket filled with gifts from our retailers. You can find a full list of participating businesses on Uptown Marion’s Instagram and Facebook pages. It’s a simple, fun way to support local shops and start your holiday shopping close to home.

Small Business Saturday is Nov. 29
And don't forget to continue supporting local on Small Business Saturday! Uptown Marion Main Street and Marion Chamber of Commerce will host a shopping event on Saturday, Nov. 29, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Participants will receive a free #ShopSmall gift, while supplies last and shoppers who show their receipts will be entered to win an Uptown Dollars gift certificate. Start your Saturday at the Marion Welcome Center, 1070 7th Avenue, to grab a list of participating stores.

Christmas in the Park is Happening on Dec. 5
Marion’s annual Christmas in the Park celebration promises an evening of festive traditions – and new exciting features – on Friday, Dec. 5, from 4-8 p.m. in Uptown Marion. The event will welcome the arrival of Santa and Mrs. Claus at 4 p.m. to the newly refurbished Depot. New this year, families can reserve a time to visit with Santa from 4-5 p.m. Reserved times will be available for sign-up beginning at noon on Friday, Nov. 28. Visits with Santa will be on a first-come, first-served basis from 5:30-8 p.m. This year also marks the debut of Marion’s Ice Loop, a new skating feature that circles the City’s 42-foot LED panel tree. Following the tree lighting at 6 p.m., the Eastern Iowa Figure Skating Club will take to the ice loop for a special skating demonstration to mark its opening. Throughout the evening, attendees can enjoy several returning favorites, including Uptown Marion Main Street’s annual Peppermint Walk, a holiday shopping event featuring a variety of Uptown Marion businesses decked out for the holidays. Find the full schedule of events at www.marioncc.org. Please note that 7th Avenue will be closed to traffic from 2-9 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 5. Drivers using 6th and 8th Avenues are asked to use caution and yield to pedestrians due to increased event activity.

Schedule Change for December City Council Meetings 
Renovation work is coming soon to Marion City Hall. Part of the project includes a refresh of the Council Chambers where City Council meetings are held. To prepare for the renovation work, the City Council meetings scheduled for December will be consolidated. The regular meeting scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 4, will be combined with the Tuesday, Dec. 2, meeting at 4 p.m. Similarly, the regular meeting scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 18, will be combined with the Tuesday, Dec. 16, meeting at 4 p.m. Both Tuesday meetings will be held in the Council Chambers at Marion City Hall, 1225 6th Avenue, and are also available to stream live online. Agendas, minutes and video recordings are available on the City’s meeting portal.

Upcoming Software Transition for Marion Public Library
The Marion Public Library is transitioning to new software for its events calendar and meeting room management system. The current online system will be temporarily unavailable starting Monday, Dec. 1 at 9 a.m. The new system is expected to go live by Tuesday, Dec. 2 at noon. Learn more about this change at marionpubliclibrary.org/news.

Marion Fire Department Seeks CERT Volunteers
Are you passionate about service and interested in helping reduce the impacts of emergencies and disasters? The Marion Fire Department is seeking additional volunteers to support the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) in Marion. Designed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), CERTs provide volunteers who are integrated into the community response structure. The City of Marion’s CERT team will receive training from Linn County Emergency Management and the Marion Fire Department. Previous experience is not required, but applicants must be 18 years old and possess a valid driver’s license. Applications will be accepted through Nov. 30. Learn more and apply at www.cityofmarion.org/employment. Questions may be directed to the Marion Fire Department at 319-377-8237.

Board and Commission Openings
Do you want to provide input on City policies and help shape our city and its government? Apply to be one of 100+ volunteers who serve on Marion boards and commissions. There are openings on the Civil Service Commission, Civil Rights Commission, Construction Code Review Board, Historic Preservation Commission and Marion Arts Council. To be considered, please submit an online application. 

We’re Hiring
If you’re looking for a collaborative team where you can learn and grow while making a positive impact in the community, look no further. Current full-time openings include public works fleet supervisor, police records clerk, police officer, 911 communications operator and library patron services manager. Find a full listing of both full and part-time opportunities at www.cityofmarion.org/employment.

Kudos to Eric Freese
It’s always great to hear about our teammates being good Samaritans. During a recent house fire, a resident and her children were displaced and needed to relocate. Building Inspector Eric Freese stepped in to help. Eric took the time to gather a few of his personal coolers and provided them to the family to assist in the storage of groceries and freezer items as they searched for a temporary home. Way to reach higher, Eric!

Kudos to the Marion Public Library & the Public Works Crew
We love it when residents take the time to share their appreciation. A note was sent to Mayor AbouAssaly earlier this week: "I’ve been meaning to write to you for a while regarding our pleasant experiences in the Marion Library. We read a lot and visit the library weekly. Staff have always been exceptionally helpful and friendly.” Additionally, another note was sent to the City via social media: "Shout out to the City – there was a heck of a mess of newspapers all over Grand Avenue and they were diligently cleaning it up. Thank you for keeping our City clean.” Thank you to our staff at the Marion Public Library and the Public Works Department for their outstanding service. Way to go, Team!

Word on the Street

• Are there plans to pave the section of the Boyson Trail from the pedestrian bridge to the Indian Creek Trail?
  We do plan to pave this portion of the trail at some point. However, funding was not available as part of the recent paving project. That said, the gap is on our radar and staff has already discussed options for paving this segment in the future. Our team values the trail system and knows how important continuity is for year-round use.

• I live in an apartment and don’t receive City recycling or garbage curbside services. Do I have an option to recycle if my landlord doesn’t provide recycling services?
  Yes! You can take household recycling items to the Cedar Rapids Linn County Solid Waste Agency, located at 1954 County Home Road, for free. For more information visit www.solidwasteagency.org. 

• Where will the mobile traffic camera be stationed next week?
  Between Nov. 17-21, the mobile speed enforcement vehicle will be located in the 2700 block of 50th Street. Between Nov. 23-27, the mobile speed vehicle will be located in the 2700 block of 29th Avenue.

Upcoming Events

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

• Saturday, Nov. 22 – City Council Office Hours – 9-11 a.m. – Marion Public Library
• Thursday, Nov. 27 – Thanksgiving, most City offices closed
• Friday, Nov. 28 – Day after Thanksgiving, most City offices closed
• Saturday, Nov. 29 – Small Business Saturday – 10 a.m.-2 p.m. – Throughout Marion
• Friday, Dec. 5 – Christmas in the Park & Peppermint Walk – 4-8 p.m. – Uptown Marion
• Friday, Dec. 5 – Coffeehouse Night featuring Terry McCauley – 7-8:30 p.m. – Lowe Park

Future Council Items

Here’s an overview 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:

• Scheduled time out of the office
• Internal meetings
• City Council Meeting
• Monthly Coffee Talk with City employees
• Young Parents Network Board meeting
• Meeting with Kelvin Unemin
• Meeting with Cari McCoy
• Christmas in the Park & Peppermint Walk

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