Thank you to Marion Council for getting it right

I thank the Marion City Council members for their 5-0 vote in favor of Mayor Allen Bouska.

Even though Bouska won, the biggest losers were the City of Marion and the citizens. The citizens are going to have to pay the bills and the city's reputation has been tarnished because of this frivolous action.

During the hearing, we learned that “Citizens for a Better Marion” is not registered with the Iowa Secretary of State. This group was represented by Jodi Treharne, wife of Marion City Planner Tom Treharne, Craig Adamson, recently defeated council member, and Jeanne Matthews, who with her husband, Paul, received a TIF deal from the city of Marion for 100 percent reimbursement of their property taxes for five years (for an estimated $400,000 redevelopment project) and recently a $75,000 grant from the State of Iowa.

At a recent council meeting, Mrs. Treharne read section 1 from Iowa Code 48A.5A, which deals with residency. Had she continued and read sections 3 and 4, maybe she would have realized how frivolous her petition was.

All night, we were waiting for the smoking gun they had promised. They submitted evidence of a small claims action dated in May 2011 and a check written by Bouska's wife dated September 2011. These were all dated before Bouska was elected. These individuals should reimburse the taxpayers for all costs associated to their frivolous petition.

Thank you, Marion City Council, and God Bless Captain America.

Dwight Hogan

Marion