IN FOCUS: 6.12.26 A Weekly Update from City Manager Ryan Waller

For the Good of the Order

Wilcox Recognized with a 2026 HER Women of Achievement Award
Congratulations to Marion Police Department Mental Health Liaison Rochelle Wilcox for being recognized as a 2026 HER Women of Achievement honoree by The Gazette. Rochelle's dedication to serving others, strengthening community partnerships and helping bridge the gap between public safety and behavioral health has made a lasting impact on our community. We are grateful for her commitment, compassion and the positive difference she makes every day. Congratulations, Roechelle!

7th Avenue to Close for Uptown Marion Market
The Uptown Marion Market returns this Saturday, June 13, from 8 a.m. to noon. Residents and visitors are reminded to be aware of localized road closures that will be in place to accommodate the event. Seventh Avenue between 10th and 12th Streets will close at 6 a.m. on Saturday, June 13, for vendor move-in and will remain closed until 1 p.m. on Saturday. Detours will be posted. Parking is available on-street surrounding the event and in the six City-owned lots within the district.

Community Members and Businesses Encouraged to Celebrate America's 250th Anniversary
The City of Marion is marking America's 250th anniversary with a months-long celebration featuring patriotic events, military tribute banners and community decorations. Building and business owners are encouraged to create patriotic window displays and storefront decorations, and residents are encouraged to take part by decorating their porches and entryways with patriotic flair now through Veterans Day. This fall, the community will be invited to take part in a tree planting event, where 250 trees will be planted to mark the occasion. Two special events are happening this weekend to coincide with Flag Day.

Road Construction Updates
Road construction season is upon us! As always, slow down in construction zones and watch for workers. Stay up-to-date on these and other projects by subscribing to the Public Works Department's project newsletter. Here's the latest.

Robins Road Construction Update
Due to this week's rainy weather, work on E. Robins Road did not progress as planned. LL Pelling will complete the final pavement surface today, with shoulder backfilling and roadway striping to be completed on Monday, June 15. The road is expected to reopen before the Monday evening commute. Thank you for your patience and understanding during this improvement project.

2026 Storm Sewer Project to Begin
On Monday, June 15, Rathje Construction will begin work on Phase 1 of the 2026 Storm Sewer Project. With a goal of improving storm sewer infrastructure, this project includes storm sewer improvements, draintile installation and replacement of curb and gutter. Phase 1 includes the installation of subdrain on the north side of 26th Avenue from 24th Street to 27th Street. Future phases will include subdrain installation on Westview Drive, 4th Avenue from 27th Street to 31st Street and the corner of 62nd Street and Beall Court, as well as removing and replacing storm sewer near the intersection of 15th Street and 2nd Avenue. Access to driveways and sidewalks will be impacted in these areas. Work is estimated to take two weeks, weather permitting.

Work to Begin on Indian Creek Access - Site 1
Rathje Construction has begun site grading and installation of the proposed sanitary sewer service at Indian Creek Access - Site 1, near Wallace Road. This project will include culvert replacements, trail access, a creek access ramp and parking lot improvements to serve both the creek access and Tower Terrace Road trail network. This is a completion date project, so as the summer progresses, the contractor may mobilize to another project to manage their own schedule. However, all work is planned to be completed by mid-September.

Marion Police Department Shares Annual Report
The past year has been one of transition and growth for the Marion Police Department. Last month, Police Chief Jeremy Sprague shared highlights from Marion Police Department's 2025 Annual Report with the Marion City Council. It includes multiple data points from each division within the department, as well as updates on each of the several specialty assignments in the organization. Find the Annual Report and other statistics the department publishes regularly linked on the City website.

Door-to-Door Solicitation Reminders
Summer is here and warmer weather brings solicitors to our community. A solicitor is any person who goes from house to house, place to place or street to street soliciting or taking orders for sales. All solicitors, peddlers and transient merchants are required to obtain a license through the City of Marion prior to the first day of any sale, offer for sale or solicitation. If you decide to speak with a solicitor, you should ask to see their identification and City of Marion license. Their City of Marion license is evidence of compliance with all requirements of City Code and will indicate the length of time the license is valid. If the individual is unable to display their license, you should call the Marion Police Department at 319-377-1511 while they are at your house or in your neighborhood. All peddlers, solicitors and transient merchants license time restrictions are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Saturday. No operation shall occur on a federal holiday. If you have any questions, please call the City Clerk at 319-743-6301.

Garage Sale Reminders
Are you aware of the City's garage sale regulations? Garage sales may be held for up to three days (72 hours) and are limited to two per household each calendar year (January - December). Please remember that garage sale signs cannot be placed in the public right-of-way, which includes the space between the sidewalk and the curb.

Keep Grass Clippings Out of the Street
Please keep grass clippings out of the street and off of sidewalks or sweep/blow the clippings back into your yard when you're finished. Wet grass clippings are slippery and create a slip/crash hazard for pedestrians and bikers. If clippings are left in the street, they will eventually wash into the storm sewer which leads directly to our creeks. Grass clippings also degrade water quality by carrying harmful lawn chemicals directly to our waterways, promoting algae blooms and reducing the amount of dissolved oxygen available for fish. Grass clippings can also cause localized flooding by clogging storm sewer pipes. The next time you're mowing, please do one extra pass to put the grass back where it belongs.

Marion Police Department Hosting Civilian Police Academy
The Marion Police Department will launch its first Civilian Police Academy this fall, offering community members a behind-the-scenes look at the department and an opportunity to learn about patrol operations, investigations, traffic enforcement, emergency response, community policing and other law enforcement responsibilities. The nine-week program will meet on consecutive Wednesday evenings from 6-9 p.m. beginning Sept. 2, 2026. Participants must be at least 18 years old and pass a background check. Enrollment is limited to 20 participants, with preference given to Marion residents. Applications are now open at www.cityofmarion.org/employment and will be accepted on a rolling basis until all spots are filled. Apply today!

Sidewalk Inspection Program Underway
In May, the Public Works Department began its annual sidewalk inspection program in Marion. Previously, this was a biannual program evaluating the condition of half of Marion every two years. Now, this program has been modified to inspect one quadrant every year in a four-year rotation. This year, the focus is on the southwest quadrant of Marion. After completing the inspection, residents may find their sidewalk has been marked with pink paint. The pink paint signifies that the panel may be defective according to the City's adopted repair standards. In the coming weeks, residents with panels in need of repair will receive a letter outlining the process. This process is changing slightly over previous years, and these differences will be outlined in the letter.

Free Outdoor Fitness Programming Offered through the Summer
Be Well Marion and Marion Parks and Recreation are teaming up with area instructors to offer free fitness programming in Marion through the summer. The dates and times for Zumba at Lowe Park, Sunrise Yoga at Lowe Park, Downdogs in Uptown and Pilates in City Square Park are set. All ages and abilities are welcome. Yoga and pilates participants should bring a mat and a water bottle. Participants will need to complete a waiver, which covers all programs for the season. Additional copies will be available on-site.

Apply to Join a Board or Commission
Do you want to provide input on City policies and help shape our city and its government? Apply to be one of 100+ volunteers who serve on Marion boards and commissions. There are openings on the Civil Rights Commission, Construction Code Review Board or Zoning Board of Adjustment. To be considered, please submit an online application.

New Faces in New Places
On Monday, June 15, Delany Miller will be joining the Marion Public Library as a part-time shelving clerk. She previously worked for UnityPoint Health. We look forward to working with you, Delany!

Also on Monday, Connor French will join the Marion Public Library as a part-time patron services team member. He comes to us from Theatre Cedar Rapids. Welcome aboard, Connor.

Word on the Street

• Why are so many road construction projects happening at once?
  Construction season is in full swing. Whether it is underground utility work, rehabilitation of existing streets or asphalt overlays - road construction projects are a necessity for our growing city. Infrastructure needs care and maintenance to help prevent more costly and longer-term issues. Generally, the weather is favorable to complete road construction projects in Iowa between April and early November. With this limited construction window, multiple projects must occur simultaneously to ensure completion before winter sets in. Additionally, it is important to provide some schedule flexibility for the contractors in order to secure competitive bids on projects. While we understand the inconvenience, progress is being made.
• What is the status of the pedestrian bridge at Hanna Park?
  We're pleased to share the next step in restoring neighborhood access to Hanna Park. Earlier this year, Council approved a contract with Rathje Construction for the construction of a box culvert across the drainage channel that previously had the pedestrian bridge. The culvert will include a pedestrian trail on top that will connect S. 6th Street and the surrounding neighborhood to the existing trail that enters Hanna Park from the south. Clearing and grubbing for this project is expected to begin on Monday, June 15, with installation of the culvert to follow. Full project completion is expected in November 2026.
• Where will the mobile traffic camera be stationed next week?
  Between June 9-13, the mobile speed enforcement vehicle will be located in the 2800 block of First Avenue. Between June 15-19, the mobile speed vehicle will be located in the 5400 block of Kacena Avenue.

Upcoming Events

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

• Rotarians in the Rough golf outing

• City Council Work Session

• City Council Meeting

• Scheduled time out of the office

Sign up to receive this weekly newsletter and other updates from the City of Marion directly in your inbox by visiting www.cityofmarion.org/text