City Of Marion: IN FOCUS: 12.29.21 A Weekly Update From City Manager Ryan Waller

Press release from the City of Marion:

12/29/2021 5:17 PM

Going Online
As this communication tool evolves, it will be added to the City website and posted on our official social media channels. We encourage you to share it as you wish, but please know we will also invite residents, members of the business community, and other partners to sign up for this and other City updates at www.cityofmarion.org/enotify.

Winter has Arrived
Kudos to the Public Services and Parks & Recreation Departments for their efforts in clearing the first measurable snowfall of the season. The Parks & Recreation Department focuses on City-owned sidewalks, trails and parking lots. This year they are also giving extra attention to the new walkways that were part of the 7th Avenue Streetscape Project. It appears there’s more winter weather in store over the holiday weekend. Be safe out there.

Snow Removal Reminders
Property owners are required maintain their sidewalks, including curb ramps leading into the street, within 36 hours after the ice/snowfall ends. Sidewalks are inspected by the Parks & Recreation Department on a complaint basis. If the City has to clear a sidewalk, fees apply. To report an issue, call 319-447-3580. In addition, firefighters rely on having access to the hydrants in every neighborhood. Residents are asked to adopt the hydrant closest to their home by clearing a 3-foot area around the hydrant and a path to the street after every snowfall.

Holiday Office Hours
Marion City Hall and other City offices will be closed this Thursday, Dec. 30 and Friday, Dec. 31 in observance of the New Year’s holiday. There will be no change to the garbage and recycling collection schedule. Curbside collection of real Christmas trees will be provided from Jan. 3-14, 2022.

Fireworks Permitted on New Year’s Eve
As a reminder, consumer fireworks are permissible on Dec. 31 from 6 p.m. until 12:30 a.m. on Jan. 1. They may only be launched on the user’s property or on the property of someone who has given permission. Fireworks may NOT be used in public parks. Illegal usage can be reported to the Marion Police Department's non-emergency line at 319-377-1511.

Salvage Timber Harvest
Faulkes Heritage Woods is a 110-acre public area owned by the City of Marion. This woodland was significantly impacted by the derecho. In response, the City has contracted with a private logging company to carry out a salvage timber harvest. The goal is to remove trees that have a limited opportunity to thrive and minimize tree risk situations. The salvage harvest operation has begun and is scheduled to be completed by March 31, 2022. The City will be accepting sealed bids for multiple lots of cut logs regularly over the next three months. Visit www.cityofmarion.org/publicnotice to view the Notice to Bidders.

Marion’s Community Survey Underway
Marion conducts a community survey every two years as part of the City’s commitment to improvement and customer satisfaction. The initial mailing to the 2,700 households selected as part of the random sample hit mailboxes this week. Data collection will occur through the end of January. In February, once the random sample has had an opportunity to participate, an opt-in online survey for all residents will open. The final reports are expected by March.

CBJ’s List of Most Influential
Please join me in congratulating Mayor Nick AbouAssaly on being named to the Corridor Business Journal’s 2021 List of Most Influential Leaders. He has landed among the top five leaders for the last five consecutive years, topping the list in both 2018 and 2020. Thank you, Mayor Nick, for sharing your passion and influence both close to home and throughout the region.  

Attached, please find an initial version of the calendar I previously mentioned of upcoming project updates. Please know that this is a fluid document that can change on a regular basis (i.e. some items may get added/rescheduled due to Council direction as well as other factors that may or may not be within the control of the City departments).  If there are items that you would like more information on, please let me know.  In the meantime, we will continue to develop this resource.    

The following are a few major activities coming up next week:

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This press release was produced by the City of Marion. The views expressed here are the author’s own.