City residents are reminded that there is a city ordinance that prohibits parking on city streets when crews are trying to remove snow.

Marion City Council discussed the ordinance Monday as well as the penalties for those who do not comply.

For the most part, residents complied during the Christmas snowstorm and moved vehicles from streets.

For those owners of vehicles not removed, the city could enforce the ordinance by having the vehicle towed.

“There are only a few who do not move them,” Public Utilities Superintendent Harvey Sanders said. “Basically, we have to plow the snow against the vehicles.”

The most serious problem is when vehicles are parked adjacent to each other on both sides of the street.

Mayor Mary Olson said she was concerned about the ages of most city vehicles.

“Are repairs nickel-and-diming us to death?” she asked.

Sanders said there were some repairs during the snowstorm when a vehicle broke down.

Typically, funds are placed in the equipment reserve fund. When sufficient funds are saved, a vehicle is purchased. The city buys used equipment, many times from Kansas Department of Transportation.

Park improvements

No progress was reported regarding new sidewalks and electrical improvements at Central Park.

Councilman Bill Holdeman suggested all of the new concrete sidewalks be 6 inches thick with rebar. Sanders said most of the sidewalks are 4 inches, which should be sufficient for typical use.

At the city baseball fields, some of the sidewalk is thicker to accommodate city work trucks needed to make repairs.

“We can mark where we’re going to drive in the park and then we’ll make those areas 6 inches thick,” Sanders said, and the rest of the sidewalk would be 4 inches thick.

Preliminary cost estimates for electrical upgrades was $20,000 for materials with the city providing the labor.

Board appointments

Terms will begin Friday.

Cemetery board: Phyllis Kreutizger and Dale Johnson, three-year term.

Parks board: Bonnie Vinduska and Dale Johnson, two years.

Board of Zoning Appeals: Margo Yates, one year, and Nick Nickelson, three years.

Marion Planning Commission: Craig Dodd, Judy Reno, and Terry Monasmith, one year; Kym Thompson, two years; and Margo Yates, three years.

Marion Housing Authority and Hilltop Manor: Charles Heerey, four years.

Marion Historical Museum Board: Gary Ewert and Elora Robinson, four years.