Marion approves street name changes
Marion City Commission approved an ordinance Monday afternoon that will change the names of five streets in the city of Marion.
The streets included in the name change belong in the Harris Heights Addition and include: Ravelo Road which will be changed to North Industrial; Cindy Court which will be changed to Commercial Drive; Tammy Terrace will be changed to Flint Rock; Lori Lane will be changed to Sandstone; and Jeffrey Drive will be changed to Limestone.
According to Susan Cooper, Marion Economic Development Director, the street name changes won't necessarily increase new business activity at the Harris Heights Addition, but will help some businesses and emergency personnel with name and road recognition.
n In other business, Cooper asked the council to approve one of three web site designers as possibilities for the city's growing need for a city website.
"This is going to give the general public an image of Marion," Cooper said.
KOTN, a company run by a retired Wichita couple, is one of the three web designers which has shown interest in the Marion project.
The Wichita company has designed more than 200 websites for cities like Marion.
Mike Fruechting, the operator and web designer of "marionks.com," also submitted a bid for the project. His initial proposal was not to exceed 20 pages according to Cooper
Mayor Eloise Mueller expressed concern for the 20 page limit.
The council decided to allow Cooper and her staff to look over the bids again and present a decision at next week's meeting.
n Michel Soyez, Chief of Police, reported that the department has been following up on the rash of burglaries that have occurred in Marion.
The police chief said that two members of his staff will be training at the police academy and will return to the Marion staff in July.
Soyez also told the council of his intentions to apply for a grant from the Department of Justice for the purchase of several bullet-proof vests for $4000. The grant would cut the cost in half if the department qualifies.
"I think we should do everything we can to protect our officers," Mueller said.
n Cooper requested a tax abatement application and informed the council of a public hearing regarding the application for the tax exemptions for Marion Die & Fixture, a division of the Bradbury Co., Inc.
n The commission heard from Gene Winkler of G & J Video and DTN representative Randy Kai about the possibility of adding another antenna to the water tower for the purpose of increasing Internet services.
Kai gave the commission a contract for the proposal. Members of the commission chose to not take action on the proposal until after they have had time to analyze the contract.
n Members of the commission approved a utility fund transfer of $20,000 to the equipment reserve.
n The commission approved an addendum to the Seacat True Value Lease Agreement.
