Marion ‘pause’ is the right call

the remaining window would really make voter education meetings and a campaign materials a really tight turn.

Wisely, the Marion City Council did not take the plunge.

Council members voted last week to “press pause” on an effort to put a roughly $40 million aquatic center plan on the ballot in November. With the ballot deadline approaching, city leaders worried the current plan would not receive enough voter support to pass.

The late date would leave little time for voter education meetings and the release of campaign materials.

The council voted 6-1pause the march to the ballot.

“I think it would be prudent to take more time,” Marion Mayor Nick AbouAssaly said, according to reporting by The Gazette’s Grace Nieland.

“This is a complex project, and I know we’ve spent a lot of time on it … but I do have concerns about us being so close to the vote date and being where we are right now,” AbouAssaly said.

A survey sent to Marion residents in July found 54% support for a $42 million plan, including a recreational pool for younger children and their guardians, lazy river, dive pool, lap pool and related parking and street infrastructure.

But the measure would need 60% support to pass. It’s difficult to seek passage for a project that has already been defeated.

So, Marion must get it right and build a community consensus. The survey results indicated a less expensive plan would be more popular. Adjustments lowered the cost to $37.4 million, but council members were unsure if that would be inexpensive enough to pass.

“I’m concerned about the time we’ve got left on this,” Ward 4 Council member Sara Mentzer in August after reviewing the survey results. “This is supposed to be a November vote, and we're still talking about whether it’s going to work or not” in mid-August.”

The project is needed. The current Willowood Park pool on 35th Street was built nearly 40 years ago, in 1987. The city has been making expensive repairs annually and a major mechanical malfunction would close the pool.

A new aquatic center would be built on the south side of Marion, between 31st and 34th streets south of Munier Road. Officials hoped the aquatic center would introduce new features for kids and adults.

Now, the city has time to make sure its plans are both affordable and fun. The next time Marion can put it on the ballot is November 2026.

(319) 398-8262; editorial@thegazette.com