Marion mayor to city: Reach Higher

MARION - Mayor Nick AbouAssaly issued a call to action Tuesday during Marion's State of the City address. He urged a packed room of business executives, elected officials and community leaders to work harder for the city while reaching higher, a nod to Marion's new tagline.

'If you're a city employee, staff or council member, you're doing a great job, and you are our greatest assets. But we can always do even better, starting with the mayor. I'm no exception,” AbouAssaly said. 'Work even harder, work smarter and always take the initiative to do a little more than expected.”

AbouAssaly, in his first term as mayor, stressed the importance of handling Marion's growth responsibly, in a way that minimizes negative effects on the lives of its residents.

Looking ahead

' Communicating with the community has been an ongoing struggle of the City Council, AbouAssaly said, which led him to require members hold office hours every Saturday. Special work sessions also will be held in each of the city's four wards, he said, in an effort to extend council members into the neighborhoods they represent.

' Marion needs to build Fire Station No. 3 quickly, he said, to accommodate growth to the north and to address increased call volumes. This year, the city will acquire land for the third station with expected construction in 2017.

AbouAssaly commended the Public Services Department while supporting its proposal to build an eco- industrial park that will incorporate renewable energy and alternative fuel systems, saving the city an estimated $300,000 a year, according to city officials.

' Marion will proceed with a roundabout at Seventh Avenue and Seventh Street. Construction of a mini roundabout at 29th Avenue and 35th Street is expected to begin in April, AbouAssaly said, and additional sections of Tower Terrace Road could move forward this year, creating a connection between 10th Street and C Avenue in Cedar Rapids.

This spring and summer, facade work will begin on seven Uptown Marion buildings, partially funded by a $500,000 grant from the Iowa Economic Development Authority.

' A partial, special census this year will count new residents who've moved to the city since the last official census in 2010, potentially adding thousands in revenue, in the form of local-option sales tax and road use tax dollars to the city's budget.

Reflections

' Marion has grown more than 37 percent since 2000, AbouAssaly said, and in the past fiscal year, the city added 243 residential units. At the end of 2015, the city issued 3,245 building permits.

' In September, Marion was named a Blue Zones Certified Community, awarded to cities that make healthy policy decisions. The city's parks and trails became nicotine-free last year.

' Marion bought the Marion Airport, which opens state funding opportunities not available to private airports.

The relocation of Marion Iron to the Marion Industrial Center has changed the landscape of the city, AbouAssaly said, making more room for commercial and residential development on Seventh Avenue.