IN FOCUS: 9.12.25 A Weekly Update from City Manager Ryan Waller

For the Good of the Order

Firefighters Brody Brokaw, Caiden Michael and Jacob Van Zante attain Paramedic Certification
Congratulations to Marion Firefighters Brody Brokaw, Caiden Michael and Jacob Van Zante for attaining their paramedic certifications through the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians. This achievement is the result of more than 18 months of classroom work and a combined 800 hours of clinical experience in both the hospital and field through Kirkwood Community College. The Marion Fire Department now has 30 active paramedics out of 46 total firefighters. MFD provides advanced medical care to our community with at least one paramedic on duty at each fire station 24/7/365.

Kudos to Traci Miller
Congrats are in order for Administrative Assistant Traci Miller, who recently achieved the designation of Fire and Emergency Services Analyst (FESA) through the Center for Public Safety Excellence. This designation recognizes demonstrated excellence in several areas, including experience, education, professional development and professional contributions, among others. There are 39 FESA's worldwide and this is the second designation in the state of Iowa, as well as at MFD. Congratulations, Traci!

Road Closure Updates
Earlier this week, crews completed substantial work on several roadways throughout the city. The Marion segments of 35th Street and Boyson Road are now open to traffic. Additionally, the asphalt overlay projects on 14th Street from 8th to 12th Avenue and 9th Avenue from 14th to 18th Street are also complete. Thank you for your patience and understanding during these road closures.

Fall Into Marion Parade Happening Tomorrow
The Fall Into Marion Parade sponsored by Farmers State Bank is tomorrow, Sept. 13, starting at 10 a.m. The parade will begin at the corner of 1st Avenue and 15th Street, traveling north. It will proceed west on 6th Avenue from 15th Street to 9th Street. Bleachers have been set up in the former library lot along 6th Avenue. Spectators are welcome to line the parade route, however, there is no parking along the route from 5 a.m. to noon on Saturday. Parking is available on the side streets and in City-owned lots.

Tailgate in the Park Happening Tomorrow
Join us for football, food trucks and fun tomorrow, Sept. 13 at Lowe Park for Tailgate in the Park. Activities will kick off at 3 p.m. as the Cyclones take on Arkansas State. Then, the Hawkeyes will play UMass at 6:30 p.m. Come cheer on both teams and watch the games on the BIG screen. Play tailgate games, bounce on the inflatables and enjoy tailgate-inspired food. This event is free and open to the public. Bring chairs/blankets for open lawn seating. Outside food and drink are permitted, and food will also be available for purchase.

Last Call: Deadline to Request Free Trees is Saturday The City of Marion and Monarch Research are offering free trees for Marion residents. Marion residents and landowners who commit to planting, watering and protecting the trees as they become established can register online for up to three free, 3-gallon trees provided by Monarch Research. Program registration is currently open and will close tomorrow, Sept. 13, at https://www.cityofmarion.org. Please register early to secure your tree selection.

Oktoberfest Returns on September 20
Oktoberfest, presented by Club Pilates, returns for the fourth year on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025. It will feature the best breweries in Iowa and surrounding areas, sampling a wide variety of styles. Each brewery will have representatives on hand to visit with and educate fans on their beers. Attendees will also enjoy live music and traditional German games of hammerschlagen and stein holding. The event will benefit the Winter Lights program and the Iowa Brewer's Guild. Tickets are available at givebutter.com/MarionOktoberfest. Participants must be 21+ years of age. Tickets and IDs will be scanned at the entrance to the event.

Public Safety Training Facility Update
On Monday, the burn structure for the City's public safety training facility arrived in Marion. Starting next week, the Marion Fire Department will begin using the burn structure to perform live fire training. Residents can expect to see smoke around 44th Street during this time. Full project completion of the training facility is expected in the spring of 2026, with the facility serving as a training resource for those in public safety professions throughout the region.

SimIowa Makes a Stop in Marion
SimIowa, an emergency medical simulation lab, teamed up with the Marion Fire Department and Area Ambulance this week for some outstanding training. This joint training involved several emergency medical scenarios using high-fidelity robotic mannequins to help keep the skills sharp for our emergency responders. It was also a great way to foster teamwork. Thank you to all involved.

Election Sign Placement Reminders As election season approaches, we want to remind everyone of the rules for the placement of political signs in Marion. Signs may not be placed in the City right-of-way, between the sidewalk and curb, per City code. In areas where there is no sidewalk, typically 15 feet from the back of the curb is considered to be the start of private property. Please be mindful of the placement of signs on corner lots so that they do not obstruct driver and pedestrian visibility of oncoming traffic. If you have questions regarding the placement of signs, please contact the Planning Division at [email protected].

We're Hiring If you're looking for a collaborative team where you can learn and grow while making a positive impact in the community, look no further. Current full-time openings include associate planner, principal planner, police officer and library patron services lead (bookmobile). Find a full listing of both full and part-time opportunities at https://www.cityofmarion.org/employment.

New Faces in New Places
On Monday, Sept. 15, Kimberly Roudabush will join us as a communications operator with the Marion Police Department. She was previously with the Marion Independent School District. Welcome to the team, Kimberly!

Also on Monday, Heather Trilk will join the Marion Public Library as a part-time shelving clerk. She currently works for Metro High School. Welcome, Heather.

Word on the Street

• Where will the mobile traffic camera be stationed next week?
  Between Sept. 11-15, the mobile speed enforcement vehicle will be located in the 2900 block of 29th Avenue, westbound. Between Sept. 17-21, the mobile speed enforcement vehicle will be located in the 5700 block of Lucore Road, northbound.

Upcoming Events

Here's a look at what's happening in Marion:

• Friday, Sept. 12 - Bingo Night- 6 p.m. - Lowe Park Arts & Environment Center
• Saturday, Sept. 13 - Marion Farmers Market - 8-11 a.m.- Willowood Park
• Saturday, Sept. 13 - Fall Into Marion Parade - 10 a.m. - Uptown Marion
• Saturday, Sept. 13 - Tailgate in the Park - 3-10 p.m. - Lowe Park
• Saturday, Sept. 20 - Marion Farmers Market - 8-11 a.m.- Willowood Park
• Saturday, Sept. 20 - Oktoberfest sponsored by Club Pilates - 11 a.m. (VIP hour), Noon-3 p.m. - Uptown Marion

Future Council Items

Here's an overview of several items that will be coming before the City Council in the weeks ahead.

On the Docket

The following are a few of the major activities on my calendar for the coming week:

• Internal meetings
• MEDCO board meeting
• City Council Work Session
• Civil Service Commission meeting
• Moving Marion Forward bus tour
• City Council Meeting
• Meeting with Ben Rogers
• Meeting with James Klein

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