Candidates share their goals for Marion

MARION - If there was any doubt, Marion's old depot will be safe with the new City Council.

Responding to a question from one of the 75 or so audience members, all seven council candidates at last night's City Hall forum said they'd work to ensure that the depot, now a pavilion in City Park, has a secure future.

“If we've ever had a community project, it was the depot,” said Paul Draper, candidate for the at-large council seat now held by Nick Glew, who's running for mayor. Draper, 77, was among Marion residents who worked in the early 1980s to preserve the train depot.

“It is a fantastic symbol of our past,” said Third Ward candidate Cody Crawford, 31.

Agreement was the general tone for the forum sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Cedar Rapids/Marion and the Marion Chamber of Commerce. What disagreements there were came over degrees of support for the Marion Central Corridor project.

“It does place the businesses in peril,” said Glew's opponent, Allen “Snooks” Bouska, longtime owner of the Dairy Queen restaurant along Seventh Avenue.

Glew, 32, a communications consultant, said the corridor project is needed so “the core of our community can be allowed to grow and be vibrant and attract new business. We're not putting businesses out of business, as some suggest.”

Bouska, 66, said he'd rather expand Sixth Avenue to handle increased east-west traffic, as envisioned in the current corridor plan, but eliminate its proposed improvements, including traffic roundabouts, to Seventh.

“Increase the tax base on Sixth” with street improvements, “and we'll go from there,” said Bouska.

With a total of nine candidates, organizers split the forum, with the council candidates taking the stand after the 30-minute mayoral segment. Answers were likewise limited to a minute.

All the candidates support continued city use of tax increment financing, and all would favor a local-option sales tax if it's brought to another countywide vote. There were differences in how they'd use the option-tax revenue, though - most would restrict it to infrastructure maintenance.

“It's a wonderful opportunity for Marion to provide services and have other folks from other areas help pay,” said at-large candidate Vicki Hughes, 60. She said she'd earmark some proceeds to expand the library and replace the police station.

First Ward candidate Dwight Hogan, 58, said the city shouldn't overuse TIF, which could reduce the school districts' tax revenue.

“As long as we handle the TIF in a smart way, I'm all for using TIF,” said Hogan.

“We need as a council to make sure we're giving it to the right businesses,” said at-large candidate Dennis Frevert, 63. As for the option tax, “if we had a vote again, I think it has to go for infrastructure.”

First Ward candidate Kim Etzel said she's glad the corridor project includes expanded bicycle lanes and separate bike trails.

“Streets are not just for cars,” said Etzel, 53. “I think it's probably in the works for the corridor project.”

Third Ward candidate George Ulferts Jr., 46, said he wouldn't support exemptions to fire-code requirements that new subdivisions have at least two entry streets.

“I don't think we ought to have any exceptions for safety,” Ulferts said.