Marion museum to get needed repairs
Staff writer
Marion Historical Museum’s sagging floor, caused by its foundation being shifted by water seepage over years, will be repaired at a cost of $28,879.43.
Marion City Council members voted Monday to accept a bid from Thrasher Foundation Repair.
Darin Neufeld of EBH Engineering said he met with museum officials and looked at the worst spots of the 1887 building. He told council members the building was not going to fall, and the bid was reasonable for the job.
“There’s no way to push that foundation up the six to eight inches that it should be,” Neufeld said.
Job specifications include installation of supports for the floor joist system; installation of a 20-foot-long supplemental zinc-coated metal beam; removing and replacing concrete at pier locations as necessary to install piers; installation of a second set of supports; removal of debris; and attempting to lift the foundation.
Thrasher also recommended adding waterproofing, permanent stabilization of floors, lifting and leveling floors, and a new gutter system at an additional cost of $27,313.42.
Neufeld said he would look again to see whether something could be done to keep water away from the foundation.
Limits on comments
On another matter Monday, council members discussed whether the city’s three-minute time limit for members of the public to speak during meetings should be changed.
Council members decided to lengthen the time to five minutes.
Council member Zach Collett said the three-minute time limit had not been enforced, and a five-minute time limit should be enforced.
Community enrichment director Margo Yates said this year’s Art in the Park would be larger than last year’s. She has found more vendors, and 75% of them will stay through Sunday this year, she said.
Participation dropped during the COVID-19 pandemic and is still not as high as festivals before then, she said.
Art in the Park is scheduled for Sept. 21 and 22.