Marion can’t close dike’s flood gate
Staff writer
Marion cannot fully close a flood gate north of town during heavy rain, leaving the city with limited control over incoming water, city administrator Brian Wells told the city council Monday.
Crews working with the Cottonwood Valley Drainage District recently cleared debris downstream, near the S. Commercial St. outflow, and improved flow through Luta Creek by about 50%, Wells said.
But the system’s main control point upstream remains compromised.
A bent pole and stuck gate near US-56 could be lowered only about halfway and likely will require outside help to fix, Wells said. The drainage board prefers to keep the gate closed during the spring rainy season to keep additional water from Mud and Clear Creeks from pushing into an already strained channel.
That limitation matters because Luta Creek through town is not just a drainage ditch. It also serves as part of Marion’s backup water supply.
“It used to be a creek,” Mayor Michael Powers said, recalling when people floated it recreationally.
Now, it is clogged with debris and slow-moving water that struggles to carry runoff.
The creek’s condition makes both problems worse, Powers said.
Council members discussed whether outside funding or drainage district support could help with a larger cleanup, since the amount of debris and buildup appears to be beyond what city crews can handle.
The connection to the water system surfaced again as council members approved submitting a pre-application for state funding tied to as much as $5.7 million in potential upgrades to the city’s water treatment plant. The figure was set high to keep options open if costs increase later.
The proposal includes improvements to treatment systems, pumps, and controls —work that becomes more important if backup water sources like Luta Creek are unreliable.
Council members also reviewed a proposal that would create a designated area in which hospital-related services could locate. Previous discussions have indicated this might be part of a plan to make it difficult for other medical facilities to compete against St. Luke Hopsital.
The proposal will go to the planning commission before returning to council.
How Marion looks, especially to visitors, drew discussion.
Some highway billboards are outdated or damaged and need replacing, economic development director Megan Jones said.
Council reviewed possible sizes and materials but did not settle on an approach.
Murals were discussed as a way to add character without adding more large signage.
Street safety brought more immediate action. Council members agreed to add yield signs at intersections that have seen repeated close calls.
“It has now been 2 hours and 14 minutes since I almost hit someone,” council member Tim Baxa said.
Council members also moved forward with submitting a state project that would extend concrete reconstruction of Main St. from Roosevelt St. to Locust St. If approved, work would be at no direct cost to the city and would rebuild the road beneath the surface, not just resurface it.