Flag pole is dedicated at library
Marion City commissioners attended a ceremony Monday to dedicate a new flagpole at the library.
About two dozens officials and Marion VFW Auxiliary members attended.
The VFW Auxiliary donated the pole in memory of three longtime officers: Edith Loveless, Joan Bowers, and Maudie Vinduska.
Mary Ford gave remarks about how the flag represented the ideals and sacrifices of Americans. Members noted that many men and women who served the nation no doubt passed through the former Santa Fe depot, now the city library.
Public hearing
Commissioners held a public hearing regarding an application for $400,000 in state funds to assist with improvements to the city water plant.
The city is seeking the grant to pay part of the estimated $710,000 project. It includes construction of a chlorine contact basin, ammonia application facility with pumps, and controls for additional monitoring capabilities.
The changes are needed because stringent federal requirements will be in place for small cities as of Jan. 1, 2004, explained Susan Cooper, economic development director.
Marion meets current water quality requirements, she said. The changes are needed to meet the new ones.
Resident Merle Bruner asked if the city had considered either an all-new automated plant, or buying water from another source such as Hillsboro.
Harvey Sanders, director of public works, said all options had been studied and that updating the current plant was the most feasible.
"There's nothing wrong with the plant," he said. "This is what will meet the new regulations."
If the grant isn't received, the city will issue bonds for the full cost of the project, paid for by customers, Cooper said.
Commissioners and other city officials attended a meeting Sept. 18 in Topeka with grant reviewers. The application itself is due Oct. 15.
Cooper noted that response has been "excellent" to surveys used as part of the grant. The surveys help determine the percentage of residents who meet the government definition of "low to moderate income."
As of Monday, 575 of the needed 683 responses (80 percent of customers) had been returned from Marion residents, Cooper said.
Full-time residents at the county lake had an even higher response: 97 surveys returned out of 103 mailed out, Cooper said.
She is contacting residents who didn't respond this week. Anyone who lost their survey or forgot to return it can contact the city office.
In other reports:
City crews were busy preparing the community for Art in the Park, and are working now for Old Settlers' Day, Sanders reported.
Interim Police Chief Michel Soyez said there were no problems associated with Art in the Park, other than the usual parking issues.
Linda Ogden, director of Communities in Schools of Marion County, thanked commissioners for the city's support of the organization and its upcoming fundraiser, Bike Marion County, to be held Oct. 12 at Marion Reservoir.
Librarian Janet Marler reported circulation of about 4,100 in August, with 131 gifts and new books added. The depot account, used to track funds donated toward the depot restoration, has been closed, she said, with the library giving the city its final share of the funds raised.
Checks totaling $67,136 were approved to pay bills.
