Marion’s streetscape project finally in sight
Staff writer
It will soon be known when Marion’s long-awaited Main St. streetscape project will begin.
City council members Monday approved a bid to work on Main from 1st St. to 5th St. The $1 million project, five years in the works, will cost the city $335,000.
City administrator Roger Holter said city authorities would meet with the contractor, Bryant and Bryant Construction of Halstead, within a couple of weeks to see when work could begin. The starting date can range from after Labor Day weekend until May, he said.
In addition to redoing sidewalks and curb cuts, downtown lampposts will be changed to two-tier lighting in antique styling with a top light over the street and lower lights for pedestrians. Planters, waste bins, and benches will be added, and accessible entries for downtown businesses will be created to comply with federal law.
Bulb-out corners will be added to define diagonal parking and create easier access to the sidewalks, Holter said.
A raised edge of a parking lot at 1st St. south of Webster Auto Service will get a makeover to change it into a retaining wall where people can sit for a rest.
“It’s a complete facelift other than the buildings,” Holter said. “It will create a more nostalgic look.”
In other business, council members:
- Formally accepted grants from Kansas Department of Transportation to buy additional land to extend the city airport runway and draft an airport development plan.
- Accepted an insurance dividend check from EMC Insurance, the city’s property and casualty insurer.
- Approved a fireworks permit for Wholesale Fireworks Enterprises to sell fireworks across the street north of Central Park.
- Approved city attorney Susan Robson to draft an agreement with a landowner north of KS-56 to potentially dig a well for a back-up water source.