At large: Dennis Frevert

In the last 20 years, Marion has seen its third-largest population growth period in history: 70 percent since 1990. This growth is only eclipsed by the last 20 years of the 18th century and the period between 1950 and 1970. The latest growth has been reflected primarily in residential housing with little being done to improve the central portion of the city and attract new business to the area.

The Central Corridor Project addresses this, and I support the concept for the following reasons.

We have a gravel street, Sixth Avenue, just one block off the main street of Seventh Avenue. As the city has grown to the east, it has left us with a salvage facility in the middle of town. With our population growth and with Seventh Avenue being a highway, there are traffic issues in the Uptown area where the road narrows to two traffic lanes. Widening Seventh Avenue is not a realistic option. The Central Corridor Project concept addresses these issues and will improve the area for potential business development. I use the word concept because it is a long-term project that will take eight to 10 years, or longer, to complete. Given the time frame, we need to be open to the particulars of the plan being adjusted over time.

The entire project is going to be expensive and the City Council needs to be realistic about how to finance it. With possible cutbacks at the federal and state government levels, anticipated city financing may be affected. Citizens on fixed incomes are concerned about property taxes going up and large increases could impact the residential housing market.

The development will eventually increase the commercial/industrial tax base but that may be realized in the later years. Therefore, the City Council will need to adjust project development to the economic conditions.

Marion's growth presents two other challenges.

First, Marion is in the midst of adding or improving east-west and north-south connecting streets to address increased traffic, which has also taken a toll on existing streets. Second, population growth has increased public safety needs. The city has outgrown its police station.

The challenge for the next Marion City Council will be to address the needs and desires of our community, both longtime residents and new Marionites, in a fiscally responsible way to continue Marion as a great place to live.

Dennis Frevert has lived in Marion the past 32 years. He has served on the Marion Arts Council, the Swamp Fox Festival committee and other Marion volunteer committees. Comments: dfrevert@inav.net.