Bond approved for street improvements

Marion City Council approved a mill levy Monday evening of 61.180, a slight decrease from 2009.

Mayor Mary Olson said she had a list of project she wanted included in the city’s new budget. Among them were a sidewalk program.

Currently, $5,000 is set aside annually to buy concrete for property owners to use in repairing sidewalks. So far this year, only $1,100 has been used.

“I would like to see more promotion of the project,” Olson said.

Economic Development Director Doug Kjellin reviewed the sidewalks that will be replaced as part of the Safe Routes to Schools program, paid with grant money from Kansas Department of Transportation.

No large projects are planned for coming years. A mower for the cemetery is the only planned equipment purchase, Administrator David Mayfield said.

A $50,000 donation remains in city coffers for improvements at Central Park. They are being addressed by a park committee.

The city is a candidate to receive $150,000 in federal aid for dredging of the city’s sewer lagoons.

Streets and alleys will be maintained as part of routine maintenance.

In other business:

• The council approved a bid of 5¼ percent from Marion National Bank for a bond that will allow property owners to spread out their payments for construction of a new street in the 700 and 800 blocks of South Roosevelt Street. The bond was reduced from $87,000 to $70,000 when two property owners chose to pay for the improvements up-front rather than in installments
• Councilman Stacey Collett commented that he had not heard complaints from constituents about problems with electrical service — either power failures or low voltage.
• Marion residents Bill Darrow and Lois Smith were appointed to the Marion Historical Museum board of directors. They replace Sharon Smith, who moved from town, and Marty Fredrickson, who resigned.
• The council met behind closed doors for 20 minutes with Mayfield, City Attorney Dan Baldwin, and attorneys Sarah Steele and Joe Norton of Gilmore and Bell. No action was taken afterward. Gilmore and Bell has represented the city as bond counsel.