IN FOCUS: 9.5.25 A Weekly Update from City Manager Ryan Waller

For the Good of the Order

Police Chief Jeremy Sprague takes his Oath of Office
City staff, community members, family and friends turned out to celebrate the ceremonial swearing-in of Police Chief Jeremy Sprague on Thursday. Mayor Nick AbouAssaly administered the oath. Congratulations, Jeremy! We're proud to have you leading the Marion Police Department.

Barkalow Honored by the American Society of Civil Engineers
Public Works Director and City Engineer Mike Barkalow has been with the City of Marion for 16 years. Yesterday, he was honored as Outstanding Government Civil Engineer of 2025 by the Iowa Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). Mike has spearheaded numerous road projects, as well as several City facility projects. This award recognizes his involvement in ASCE, the engineering profession and his involvement in community programs. Thank you for your important contributions, Mike. Keep up the great work!

City Council Votes to Pause Aquatics Park Project
During their Sept. 4, 2025 meeting, Marion City Council voted 6-1 to hold off on putting the proposed outdoor aquatics park on the November ballot. Council members cited the overall project cost, a compressed timeline and recent survey findings showing less than 60% support for the possible bond referendum to fund the project as reasons for the decision. City staff and Council members emphasized that the pause should not be misinterpreted as a full stop for the project. Staff will work with the resident-appointed steering committee to discuss next steps and an updated timeline associated with replacing the aging Marion Pool at Willowood Park.

Latest Edition of Marion Messenger Available
The latest edition of the Marion Messenger hit mailboxes this week and is filled with important information and reminders for residents. Find project information, event details, budget highlights and more in this quarterly newsletter which is delivered to all Marion households. This issue also includes the Marion Parks and Recreation Play by Play 2025/2026 Fall/Winter Activity Guide. Additional copies will be available at Marion City Hall, Marion Public Library and the Marion Welcome Center.

Falliday Market Accepting Vendor Applications As the temperatures drop and seasons change, the Marion Parks and Recreation Department is hosting its fourth annual Falliday Market at Lowe Park, 4500 N 10th St, Marion, on Saturday, Oct. 11, from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Organizers anticipate the perfect blend of seasonal fall and holiday treasures with space for approximately 50 vendors to participate. Those interested in vending are asked to complete a vendor application online at https://www.cityofmarion.org/fallintomarion. The deadline to apply is today, Sept. 5. Questions may be directed to the Marion Parks and Recreation Department at (319) 447-3590.

Spark in the Park Multicultural Festival Happening Sunday
On Sunday, Sept. 7, Yenko will host its second annual Spark in the Park Multicultural Festival. This free event will take place at the Klopfenstein Amphitheater at Lowe Park from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Enjoy international food samplings, yoga, cultural performances, a fashion show and more! All are welcome to participate to ignite wellness and celebrate culture. For more information visit: yenko.org.

Fall Into Marion Parade Returns Next Saturday For the third year, the City of Marion is pleased to host the Fall Into Marion Parade sponsored by Farmers State Bank. It will take place on Saturday, Sept. 13, at 10 a.m. Both Marion and Linn-Mar High School marching bands plan to participate, along with a variety of nonprofits and area businesses. Floats are encouraged and prizes will be awarded. But don't delay, Tuesday is the last day to register! To sign up to participate, please visit https://www.cityofmarion.org/fallintomarion and register online. Registration is $40 for for-profit organizations and $5 for all others.

Deadline to Request Free Trees is Next Saturday The City of Marion and Monarch Research are offering free trees for Marion residents. Marion residents and landowners who commit to planting, watering and protecting the trees as they become established can register online for up to three free, 3-gallon trees provided by Monarch Research. Program registration is currently open and will remain open through Saturday, Sept. 13, at https://www.cityofmarion.org. Please register early to secure your tree selection.

Central Plaza Water Feature Update
The water feature in the Central Plaza at City Square Park is fully operational again. Crews worked with the contractor to make repairs and adjusted procedures to avoid a reoccurring problem. We appreciate your patience and understanding during the temporary closure.

Work Continues on 35th Street
Crack sealing on 35th Street continued this week and included additional partial depth patching repairs. Work is expected to be complete next week, with pavement markings to follow. Traffic control will shift periodically during this time to allow work to progress. Full project completion is now anticipated by Sept. 11, weather permitting.

Boyson Road Construction Update
Earlier this week, crews completed diamond grinding work on Boyson Road - Phase 2. Work will now transition to crack sealing and granular shoulder improvements, with pavement markings to follow. The closure of Boyson Road between Alburnett Road and Central Avenue remains in effect. Residents are reminded to obey the posted road closures. Phase 2 is on track to be completed by Sept. 17, weather permitting.

Election Sign Placement Reminders As election season approaches, we want to remind everyone of the rules for the placement of political signs in Marion. Signs may not be placed in the City right-of-way, between the sidewalk and curb, per City code. In areas where there is no sidewalk, typically 15 feet from the back of the curb is considered to be the start of private property. Please be mindful of the placement of signs on corner lots so that they do not obstruct driver and pedestrian visibility of oncoming traffic. If you have questions regarding the placement of signs, please contact the Planning Division at [email protected].

We're Hiring If you're looking for a collaborative team where you can learn and grow while making a positive impact in the community - look no further. Current full-time openings include associate planner, principal planner, police officer, human resources generalist and utility I. Find a full listing of both full and part-time opportunities at https://www.cityofmarion.org/employment.

New Faces in New Places
On Monday, Sept. 8, Marriah Talbott-Malone will be join the Marion Public Library as a part-time patron services support team member. She currently works at Panera Bread. Welcome aboard, Marriah.

Also on Monday, Dan Sherman will join Team Marion! Dan will be our new equipment operator with the Parks & Recreation Department. He comes from The Overhead Door Company. Congrats, Dan!

Word on the Street

• Where will the mobile traffic camera be stationed next week?
  Between Sept. 6-9, the mobile speed enforcement vehicle will be located in the 5200 block of Winslow Road, northbound. Between, Sept. 11-15, it will be located in the 2900 block of 29th Avenue, westbound.

Upcoming Events

Here's a look at what's happening in Marion:

• Saturday, Sept. 6 - Marion Farmers Market & City Council Office Hours - 8-11 a.m.- Willowood Park
• Sunday, Sept. 7 - Spark in the Park Multicultural Festival - 11 a.m.-5 p.m. - Lowe Park
• Saturday, Sept. 13 - Marion Farmers Market - 8-11 a.m.- Willowood Park
• Saturday, Sept. 13 - Fall Into Marion Parade - 10 a.m. - Uptown Marion
• Saturday, Sept. 13 - Tailgate in the Park - 3-10 p.m. - Lowe Park

Future Council Items

Here's an overview of several items that will be coming before the City Council in the weeks ahead.

On the Docket

The following are a few of the major activities on my calendar for the coming week:

• Internal meetings
• Meeting with Cari McCoy
• Monthly check-in with Linn-Mar & Marion Independent school districts
• Scheduled time out of the office

Sign up to receive this weekly newsletter and other updates from the City of Marion directly in your inbox by visiting https://www.cityofmarion.org/enotify.