To the editor:

 I am writing in response to Kodi Kelsey’s Letter to the Editor in last week’s newspaper. Unfortunately, she has misunderstood me.

I am in complete agreement with her in feeling very fortunate to have memorial gifts of money given to the city for projects to be enjoyed by others.

What I asked at a meeting was if there was a policy as to how a donation would be used if the donor had not designated its use. (The city had just received a gift of $500 to be used as the city wanted.) The response was that there was no such policy.

I said that maybe there should be a policy that would consider how the gift or donation would be used, and to ensure the funds for maintenance be in the budget each year. The completed project becomes city property and as such, the taxpayers would be paying for the maintenance.

Two examples as to why I had asked about maintenance were the city received $50,000 from the Brooker family to build the beautiful springs we all enjoy in Central Park. Fortunately, city employee Kevin Hill has been maintaining the pumps and other equipment ever since the springs were built. But two years ago, a very hard working volunteer told me about the deterioration of rocks around the water, including many that had been pushed into the water. Needless to say, I was disappointed to see it and asked why it had been allowed to deteriorate. Thankfully, the Marion City Council felt the same way and voted to repair the springs.

The second project is at the baseball complex. It is my understanding Marion Recreation Commission had arranged to have the shelter house moved to the complex from the former outdoor swimming pool location. Material was donated to stabilize the shelter house in the new location. Eighteen months ago, Margo Yates made me aware that the stabilization had not been completed. Again, I reminded council members that the shelter house is on city property and thus should be stabilized and maintained by the city. 

Therefore, I want Kodi to know I fully agree. Maintenance is the responsibility of the city, and that funds must be budgeted each year for this maintenance. 

Otherwise, I am sure families would be disappointed to see a project they have donated allowed to deteriorate or to become unsafe. 

Thanks, Kodi, for your response and involvement. If this does not fully respond to your concern, I would be glad to talk to you personally.

Mayor Mary Olson
Marion