Staff writer
Marion City Administrator Doug Kjellin gave a presentation Friday to the Marion Chamber of Commerce.
He updated the chamber on the development by Homestead Affordable Housing in the eastern part of town. He displayed a blueprint and said the final plat was going to be presented to the building committee. Homestead Affordable Housing plans to build a low-income, senior living subdivision of duplex properties in the northeast section of town.
Homestead has also negotiated to refurbish existing properties at September 1 and September 2. Both housing units are currently owned by a conglomerate of local owners, but Kjellin said they have agreed to sell to Homstead.
Kjellin said he has been encouraged by talks to bring in a retail store to Marion. He said he was close to making an announcement Friday but needed to work out more details.
Kjellin said the city of Marion has been awarded a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency grant to cover 90 percent of the cost for electrical mapping. Every transformer, electrical pole, and other necessary electrical infrastructure will be recorded in case of a natural disaster.
A meeting Marion will host at the community center are the Kansas Powerpool meeting April 19, Kjellin said.
At the urging of local boy scouts, city crews have pumped water up the line to increase water flow in Ludacreek by 90 percent.
Kjellin discussed working on Fourth Street in front of the jail. He included that infrastructure would be a focus of the 2013 budget, which include work on the 100 block of Freeborn Street and a four block radius around the hospital. He also wants to establish a 5-year plan to replace the water lines in the city.
In other business:
- Amy Kjellin informed the council of Butler Community College’s free class day from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. March 31 on the Marion campus. There are 30 class choices. Butler is also hosting a Big Truck event for children 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. in the Marion Football Stadium Parking lot.
- The chamber is hosting a garage sale day 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 5 in the back of the Hoppy Building, 113 N. First St. Participants are requested to drop off items by May 4.
- The candidate forum for local elections will by 1 p.m. April 25 at Veterans of Foreign Wars post in Marion.