By DAVID COLBURN

Staff writer

A proposal to give a $17,000 contract for repairs on the alley behind Central National Bank to the contractor who is rebuilding the bank’s parking lot drew fire Monday from Marion City Council ember Jerry Kline.

“Anything the city does with this kind of money needs to be let out for bid,” Kline said. “I want an estimate of the project. I want several different contractors.”

Hett Construction is scheduled to begin work on the parking lot behind the bank next week, and City Administrator Doug Kjellin proposed giving them the alley project to address decaying conditions and water runoff issues.

“We have done some downtown analysis and feel as though that alley is the highest traffic area downtown,” Kjellin said.

City policy recommends getting three bids, but does not require it, Kjellin said.

“I never like having two different contractors doing one job because it becomes a finger-pointing thing,” Kjellin said.

The council passed a motion by Kline to put out two bids, one for repairing the alley the length of the entire block, and the second excluding the section adjacent to Liberty Park. Council member Todd Heitschmidt, Central National Bank president, abstained from the vote.

Marion City Council postponed action on a revised truck parking ordinance after Kjellin identified situations not covered in the revisions.

“Right now this does not address the issue of a rented property in which the renter has a vehicle parking on rented property. The actual landowner should probably be included on the permit application,” Kjellin said.

Another oversight identified by Kjellin was in the notification of renters living within the 200-foot radius permit applicants are required to contact for their application

The council directed Kjellin to draft a revised version of the ordinance reflecting the corrections for consideration at the next council meeting.

In other business:

• Susan Robson was appointed city attorney to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Keith Collett.
• Greg Carlson received approval to use selected grassy areas of Brooker Central Park for car displays for a car show July 7.
• The council approved a high-density residential development overlay district for the Homestead Victory Plaza Addition.
• The council approved payments of bills in the amount of $164,732, and payroll in the amount of $28,133.

The next council meeting is scheduled for June 25.