City Of Marion: IN FOCUS: 2.18.22 A Weekly Update From City Manager Ryan Waller

Press release from the City of Marion:

02/18/2022 5:00 PM

Presidents Day Schedule
Marion City Hall will be closed to the public on Monday, Feb. 21, for employee training and annual cleaning. Other City facilities will be open normal business hours. Members of the Marion Police Department will offer two one-hour training sessions to employees related to community mental health awareness, de-escalation tactics and simple things that each of us can do to maintain a safe work environment.

RDG Planning + Design Provides Plaza Update
RDG Planning + Design provided an overview of the process that will help take the Central Plaza in the Uptown Master Plan from conceptual design to final design during this week’s City Council Work Session. Several working committees will provide input along the way. View the presentation or find a full recording of the meeting at www.cityofmarion.org/meetingportal. 

Marion’s State of the City Event
Marion’s State of the City event is scheduled for Thursday, March 10, at the Cedar Rapids Marriott. Marion Mayor Nicolas AbouAssaly will review the challenges and triumphs of 2021 and highlight the progress anticipated in 2022 and beyond during his State of the City address entitled, “Progress Ahead.” Reservations for the luncheon are $40 per person or $400 for a table of 10 and may be purchased online via the Linn County League of Women Voters website at www.lwvlinncounty.org/lwvlc-marion-soc.

Military Tribute Banner Sponsorships to Open Next Week
For the fifth year, the City of Marion, Marion Chamber of Commerce and Uptown Marion Main Street District are proud to invite residents to honor those who are serving or have served in the United States Armed Forces. Today, those who had requested to be notified received the sponsorship details. We will begin accepting applications on Tuesday, Feb. 22 for the 50 spaces we have available this year. Requests will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis until availability runs out.

Marion Metro Kiwanis Meeting
I had the opportunity to visit with members of the Marion Metro Kiwanis Club on Wednesday of this week. In addition to a general introduction, I was able to share this handout that provides a high-level overview of Marion’s most prominent development areas, the investments that are happening in Uptown and anticipated road construction projects.

Marion Civil Rights Commission Accepting Housing Assistance Grant Applications
Thanks to Marion City Council’s authorization of $20,000 in 2022, the Marion Civil Rights Commission is now seeking non-profits, charitable organizations or other entities interested in assisting low-and-moderate income individuals with programs that address housing instability in the community. Applications will be accepted at www.cityofmarion.org until March 15.

Encore Café Returns
After a nearly two-year hiatus, the Encore Café senior meals program returned to Lowe Park this week. Encore Café will offer meals on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. offering a choice of entrees and various sides. Older adults over the age of 60 are welcome to participate on a voluntary contribution basis, and those under 60 are invited to participate by paying $9 per meal. Reservations are highly recommended 24 hours in advance and can be made by calling the Encore Café reservation line at 319-398-2585. More information and menus can be found at www.cityofmarion.org/senior-activities.

ImOn to Be Acquired by Goldman Sachs Asset Management
ImOn Communications, LLC made headlines yesterday with the announcement that it has signed definitive documentation to be acquired by the infrastructure investing business within Goldman Sachs Asset Management. The move is said to support ImOn’s expansion of its high-speed fiber network in the surrounding markets. As part of the transaction, Goldman Sachs Asset Management will make new investments to help accelerate ImOn’s growth in FTTP data, video and voice services to homes and businesses throughout eastern Iowa and surrounding markets.  

New Faces in New Places
Chad Hood has joined the City of Marion as a building inspector. Chad has more than 15 years of experience in the construction industry, most recently as a foreman with Eric’s Custom Homes. Welcome to the team, Chad!

Several items will be coming before City Council in the weeks ahead. Here’s a look at the tentative agenda.

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.