Managing editor
Marion City Council was asked to entertain the notion of selling part of a city parking lot, west of the Historic Elgin Hotel and Bed and Breakfast, to the owners of the historic building, Jim and Nancy Cloutier of Marion.
At Monday’s meeting, economic development director Doug Kjellin asked the council to consider the sale.
The city owns the parking lot but the lot is in need of resurfacing. Kjellin suggested the proceeds from the sale of the lots go to improving the parking lot.
He will check with contractors for cost estimates for resurfacing the area.
If the sale goes through as planned, the Cloutiers plan to build a two-car carriage house, similar in construction to the Elgin. Kjellin said it would meet the city’s requirements for auxiliary buildings.
“We need to proceed,” Councilman Jerry Kline said.
“It’s a win-win for city,” Councilman Steve Smith said.
Kjellin said he would begin negotiations with Cloutier.
He added that the city parking lot needed to be improved to accommodate additional parking when renovations at the auditorium are completed, which will attract visitors for seminars, receptions, and meetings.
Council tables talk of airport board
Mayor Mary Olson proposed a resolution that would establish a municipal airport board, making it subject to bylaws.
Smith said he wanted feedback from the informal or current airport board before he approved it. He asked the outcome of the meeting Sept. 1 between Olson, Kline, and the airport board.
“The board wants the majority of board members to be pilots,” Olson said.
“Do we want the board to make decisions on behalf of the city?” Smith asked.
City attorney Dan Baldwin explained the course taken to the point of establishing a different airport board.
He explained that when the Pearl Baxter Trust designated money to the airport, the airport board’s bylaws could not be located. Therefore, there were no provisions for administering the trust money.
“Mayor Olson has made changes,” Baldwin said.
Olson explained there were resolutions passed for other city boards including cemetery, recreation, museum, and library. There is no resolution for the park or airport board, which needs to be addressed at some point.
Smith said he would rather approve the resolution after the bylaws and appointments are in place and asked the council to table the approval of the resolution. The council agreed and the issue was tabled.