IN FOCUS: 1.16.26 A Weekly Update from City Manager Ryan Waller

For the Good of the Order

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is Happening on January 19
During the Jan. 8 City Council meeting, Mayor AbouAssaly read a proclamation in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. The proclamation designates Monday, Jan. 19, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, as a day of service in Marion and calls upon residents to pay tribute to the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. through participation in community service projects. This is a great opportunity to lend a hand to a neighbor or explore volunteer opportunities. Visit the United Way of East Central Iowa website to learn more. Monday is not a designated City holiday, so offices are open and garbage and recycling will be collected according to the normal schedule.

Chief Tom Fagan Elected President of the County Fire Chiefs Association
Please join us in congratulating Marion Fire Chief Tom Fagan on being nominated and elected president of the County Fire Chiefs Association. Chief Fagan is a strong advocate for fire safety, community risk reduction and emergency preparedness for Marion and the region. In addition to his experience as a chief officer, he serves as a fire service accreditation assessor. Chief Fagan is a credentialed Chief Fire Officer (CFO) through the Center for Public Safety Excellence, a Certified Public Manager (CPM) through the University of Kansas and a Nationally Registered Paramedic. Congratulations, Chief! Way to Reach Higher!

Save the Date - Marion's State of the City Event
Mark your calendars now for Marion's 2026 State of the City event. It will be held on Monday, March 9, from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. at the DoubleTree by Hilton Cedar Rapids Convention Complex. Look for more information to be shared in the coming weeks. Mayor AbouAssaly's high-energy presentation, titled "City of Opportunity," will highlight the progress and forward-looking initiatives that make Marion a community where people and businesses thrive. Make plans now to attend.

5th Avenue Temporarily Closed
Yesterday, crews with Rathje Construction closed 5th Avenue at 275 5th Avenue (near 3rd Street) for an emergency sewer repair. This section of roadway will be closed to through traffic for approximately one week. We appreciate your patience and understanding.

2026 Garbage & Recycling Holiday Collection Schedule
The Public Works Department maintains a holiday collection schedule to coincide with City/department holidays and the Cedar Rapids/Linn County Solid Waste Agency. The 2026 schedule is now available online.

Local Warming Centers Identified
Temperatures are expected to drop this weekend, into early next week. In partnership with Linn County EMA, the following locations have been identified as warming centers, facilities where people can temporarily go during periods of extreme temperatures to get out of dangerous weather conditions. These facilities may be accessed during their normal hours of operation. Services are not provided beyond what is normally available at these facilities.

• Marion City Hall - 2nd Floor Lobby, 1225 6th Avenue [Mon-Fri 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.]
• Marion Lowe Park Arts & Environment Center, 4500 N. 10th Street [Mon - Fri 7 a.m.- 4 p.m.]
• Marion Thomas Park Safe Room, 343 Marion Boulevard [Mon - Fri 7 a.m. - 4 p.m.]
• Marion Police Department Lobby, 6315 Highway 151 [Mon - Fri 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.] open 24 hours for emergencies
• Marion Public Library, 1101 6th Avenue [Mon - Thurs 9 a.m. - 8 p.m., Fri - Sat 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., Sun 1 p.m. - 5 p.m.]

Marion Farmers Market Accepting Applications
The weekly Marion Farmers Market will return to Willowood Park (1855 35th Street) again this year. The market will run each Saturday from May 2-Sept. 26, 2026 from 8-11 a.m. Vendor applications are currently being accepted, with the first review beginning in mid-February. Learn more and apply at www.cityofmarion.org/farmersmarket.

Open House Set to Share Plans for Next Phase of 7th Avenue Reconstruction
The City of Marion, along with its partners Anderson Bogert and Universal Field Services, is ready to share the plans for the next phase of construction on 7th Avenue from 12th to 22nd Streets. An open house and input session is scheduled for Monday, Jan. 26, 2026, from 6-7:30 p.m. in the Community Room at the Marion Public Library. A presentation is planned for 6:30 p.m. Impacted building/business owners and community members are invited to attend to learn about the project scope, temporary easements required and construction phasing for 10 City blocks on the eastern edge of Uptown Marion. Work is expected to begin in 2027 and span two construction seasons.

Builder/Contractor Open House Happening February 3
The City of Marion invites area commercial contractors, builders and developers to an informational session on Tuesday, Feb. 3, between 9-10:30 a.m. at the Lowe Park Arts & Environment Center, 4500 N. 10th Street. Representatives from City departments and economic development partners will be on hand to discuss topics that impact those in the building construction industry. The morning session will be geared toward commercial contractors and developers. Then, at 11:30 a.m. on Feb. 3, the focus will shift to residential contractors. A box lunch will be provided for the lunch hour meeting. Attendees are asked to call the Community Development Department at 319-743-6330 by Thursday, Jan. 29, to RSVP.

City-Owned Items Available for Bid Year Round
Marion invites interested bidders to explore online bidding opportunities for surplus items auctioned from various City departments. Bidding is year-round on the GovDeals platform. Items for sale range from office furniture, tools, equipment parts and more. The current selection offers a variety of items available from the City Hall renovation project. The auctions can be accessed on www.govdeals.com/CityofMarionIA. Participants must register before placing bids.

Nominate a Stand-Out Volunteer for the Community Impact Award
Two weeks remain to nominate someone for the Morris F. Neighbor Community Impact Award presented by the Marion Chamber of Commerce and the City of Marion. Nominations will be accepted through Jan. 31, 2026. Community Impact Award nominees may be an individual, couple or organization whose volunteerism, outstanding service and dedication have impacted the Marion community. The honoree will be announced by Mayor AbouAssaly and Chamber President Jill Ackerman during the Marion State of the City event in March. Visit marioncc.org/community-impact-award to access the nomination form.

Board and Commission Openings
Do you want to provide input on City policies and help shape our city and its government? Apply to be one of 100+ volunteers who serve on Marion boards and commissions. There are openings on the Arts Council, Civil Service Commission, Civil Rights Commission, Construction Code Review Board, Park Board and Zoning Board of Adjustment. To be considered, please submit an online application.

We're Hiring for Seasonal Positions
It's never too early to think about fun in the sun! Seasonal positions have been posted for the pool and Parks and Recreation Department, in addition to two internship opportunities. Find a full listing of both full and part-time opportunities at www.cityofmarion.org/employment.

Word on the Street

• Where will the mobile traffic camera be stationed next week?
  Between Jan. 16-21, the mobile speed enforcement vehicle will be located in the 2100 block of 50th Street. Between Jan. 22-26, the mobile speed vehicle will be located in the 5200 block of Winslow Road.

Upcoming Events

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

• Saturday, Jan. 17, City Council Office Hours, 9-11 a.m., Marion Public Library
• Saturday, Jan. 24, City Council Office Hours, 9-11 a.m., Marion Public Library
• Monday, Jan. 26, 7th Avenue Reconstruction (12th-22nd Streets) Open House, 6-7:30 p.m., Marion Public Library

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
• MEDCO Board Meeting
• City Council Work Session
• Young Parents Network Board Meeting
• City Council Meeting
• Meeting with Cari McCoy
• Meeting with Quinn Pettifer

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