Managing editor
As promised at the last Marion City Council meeting, longtime Marion resident Pearl Baxter left $75,000 to Marion Municipal Airport Board.
At Tuesday’s council meeting, board president Ty Zeiner spelled out the stipulations of the donation to the council. The funds are to be used for the construction of a new office building at the airport. The building must be designed per Baxter’s requirements, which include two bathrooms with one being handicapped accessible, a lounge area, storage area, and with air conditioning and heating for the building.
In return, the city is required to provide site work including the pouring of a concrete pad, rough-in plumbing and sewer, and remove old structure.
Zeiner said he was concerned about money to have the new office space cleaned and maintained.
A meeting will be set up between the city and the airport board to discuss options. Bids will be solicited for the building to give the airport board and the city an idea of cost estimates.
Councilman Steve Smith asked if this would be a good time to think about other airport improvements such as extending the runway. City attorney Dan Baldwin said he recalled the city had pursued that idea about five years ago but met resistance from property owners affected by the expansion.
Free flighters not coming to Marion
The Heart of America Free Flight Association did not feel welcome to return to Marion so the group will not have its convention and competition in Marion on June 20.
Marion Municipal Airport Board members were not in favor of allowing the airport property, owned by the City of Marion, to be used for the event. Board members claimed the property was damaged in 2009 when the event was at the airport.