Staff writer
Marion public works department is putting up Christmas decorations around town.
A crew of workers placed a decorative Christmas tree — including red balls imbedded in the pine needles to simulate decorations and a yellow triangle perched at the top of each wreath to mimic a star — on light posts along Main Street.
Marion Public Works Director Harvey Sanders said that the wreaths are the first step in preparing for the holidays. He said that lights are soon to follow and the decorations need to be in place so the lights can be activated the day before Thanksgiving Day.
Sanders is also preparing for the unfortunate side effects of winter: new blades have been placed onto snowplows and brine, a liquid salt, has been collected to be spread on the streets before the first snowfall.
Public works has also winterized the decorative and drinking fountains in Marion. They emptied the water from the larger fountains and then blew air through their pipes. They take compressors out of the drinking fountains.
However, other than the procurement of proper equipment, not much else can be done before the bad weather begins.
“We don’t do anything until we know it’s going to snow,” Sanders said. “We take care of the electricity during the winter and we do a little trimming.”
Sanders advises Marion residents to pack their water meter so it doesn’t freeze during the winter.