Special election may be called over Marion library project

MARION - The city may call a special election to ask voters if they approve of a library expansion that has been the source of tension between the Marion Public Library Board of Trustees and the City Council.

The trustees, who met to discuss the issue Wednesday evening, have planned for about a year to demolish the existing library and build a mixed-used facility with retail and residential components. But they've been pushed by the council to put a question on the ballot asking voters if they approve of the idea.

Some council members, including Mayor Snooks Bouska, have expressed concern that plans for a new library have been hidden from the public.

Bouska said the council has supported only building a satellite library on the north side of the city in its five-year strategic plan - but never got on board with the idea of tearing down Marion's current library and building a bigger one.

'That's not the intent of the council,” Bouska said. 'We've been pressing them to put something on the ballot for a long time because we feel that the community should definitely have a voice in this.”

While there's an upcoming election in November, City Manager Lon Pluckhahn said that would be too soon for a proper ballot question to be created. There aren't enough details ready to give voters an idea of what the library would look like, how much it will cost or what its funding source would be.

A special election would cost an estimated $21,000 and likely take place in March or May of next year.

'From my perspective, given a chance to explain what the project is and really educate the public about it, I don't personally think we would really have to fear a vote,” Pluckhahn said. A campaign launched by the city in 2009 to gauge the public's priorities for the direction of the city indicated the desire for a new library, he said. He thinks a public vote would work in favor of the library board.

The majority of funding options for the library would require voter approval, anyway, Pluckhahn said, and the fourth option would require a public hearing only.

To hold a special election in the city and add a question to the ballot requires the approval of the City Council.