Marion urged to sign off on updated land swap

MARION - The Marion Park Board voted Wednesday in favor of a land swap that would give a local developer part of a popular disc golf course at Legion Park.

After much confusion over the specifics of the exchange at the board's last meeting on June 13, park board members voted against recommending that the City Council approve the land swap with CeMar Holdings.

Officials then decided to hold a special meeting on the matter Wednesday, hoping to give the developer and concerned residents time to visit the property and ask any questions.

Since that meeting, CeMar and the city of Marion have revised the proposal, slightly reducing the acreage the developer would receive. The alteration protects a large, well-known tree in the park, officials said.

Now, if the council agrees, CeMar will receive 1.05 acres instead of the originally proposed 1.305 acres. The swap would give the company land on which holes 3, 4, and 5 of the disc golf course now sit. However, as developer Jon Dusek has noted, a past swap already gave CeMar part of each hole.

In the exchange, the city will receive 3.69 acres around the park and additional land for a stormwater drain project that affects access to a nearby trail.

Parks and Recreation Director Richard Fox said he was pleased with the board's vote.

“I've always felt the scales were tipped in the city's favor (in deals with CeMar),” Fox said. “Have they benefited? Absolutely. But I've always felt the scales were tipped in our favor.”

But not everyone in Marion was satisfied with the panel's recommendation. Resident Julia Wittnebel - who attended the first meeting and was one of many to express confusion over the proposal - said she was frustrated with a lack of transparency over the previous land swap that involved sections of the disc golf holes.

“I want a full airing of how and when the land was transferred,” she said. “I have no idea when the transfer took place. That should all be aired publicly and the process should be slowed.”

The City Council could hold a public hearing on the latest proposed swap as early as July 12.