Trying to stay within his time limit during the public forum portion of the Marion City Council meeting Monday, Marion resident Roger Schwab hurriedly read a letter to the council regarding the city’s policy of cost-sharing for street improvements.

Schwab lives on S. Roosevelt St., part of a newer housing development. Owners of those properties have requested curb, gutter, and a hard-surface street.

In his letter, Schwab contended that the city had set a precedent by paying 50 percent of the cost of Country Club Dr. while property owners paid the remaining 50 percent. He questioned whether the city had the right to require property owners elsewhere to pay for street improvements when technically the city owns the land immediately adjacent to the street.

Traditionally, the city has required property owners to pay for street improvements by dividing the cost in proportion to the amount of property each resident owns that abuts the street. The costs are assessed through a special assessment, traditionally over 10 years, on owners’ property taxes.

Schwab asked the question, “Who owns all the streets in the city of Marion?”

The statement continued that Schwab was looking for an understanding of how decisions are made on distributing costs of paved streets. He also requested a reply in writing within 10 days.

Following his request, Mayor Mary Olson said the city should be able to respond with the requested time.

In other street-related business:

• The east side of Eisenhower Dr., except for business entrances, is ready for road base material. A storm sewer has been completed, but a drainage ditch that needs to be constructed east of Eisenhower, north of Lawrence.
• Road base, curb, and gutter have been installed in the 200 and 300 blocks of N. Cedar St. A storm sewer is under construction in the 100 blocks and road base construction will begin after the storm sewer works is completed.
• Engineering and planning continue from Hudson Street to U.S.-56. The city will initially pay the county’s share of the project, 10 percent or $21,000, the same as the city, with Kansas Department of Transportation reimbursing the city.
• A payment of $131,883 was approved to Smoky Hill LLC for street improvements.
• A code of conduct of elected and appointed officials was adopted as required for the Community Development Block Grant, which is assisting in the funding of the street projects.