By PHYLLIS ZORN

Staff writer

Workers began construction last week of a small building that will house water and ice dispensing machines at the site of Marion’s former Ampride convenience store.

When Ampride closed last summer, company officials promised not to leave Marion residents with only card-operated gasoline pumps.

Jerry Fenske, director of owner company Cooperative Grain and Supply, said he hoped the ice and water building would be completed and working within the next month.

That’s not the only change coming.

“We intend to upgrade fuel dispensers and also add additional handles to the site for both clear and dyed diesels,” he said. “We are still waiting on a few quotes and expect equipment to take up to six months to arrive once ordered.”

Communication lines to fuel pumps eventually will be moved to the new building.

“Our hope is that we have minimal disruption to the site being able to offer fuel as possible throughout the process,” Fenske said. “Once everything is completed and all utilities are installed and working, we will plan to have the existing building removed.”