City approves culvert on Country Club Drive
Staff reporter
Even though Marion Mayor Martin Tice disagreed with the concept, the remaining four councilmen approved a new concrete culvert on Country Club Drive during Monday evening's Marion City Council meeting.
City administrator David Mayfield suggested to the council that the city needed to address flooding issues on Country Club Drive near the Country Club Heights Addition. He said when the new indoor swimming pool is built, more water will be sent through the channel which will increase flooding.
Currently, there is a 60-inch culvert to divert runoff and Mayfield said a second culvert a minimum of 10 feet from the current one would help. City crews also will widen the creek channel to allow more pooling of water and for more water to run through in a shorter period of time.
Two estimates were presented — $14,465 for a 60-inch steel culvert with two flumes, and $14,569 for a 60-inch concrete culvert with two flumes.
Councilman Stacey Collett asked if a plastic culvert was a possibility. Mayfield said he didn't obtain a bid but could if the council requested it.
He added that he had checked with the agriculture services office and was told that water runs through that creek from 1,700 acres.
Tice said he wasn't sure if this would solve the problem and hated to expend funds for an unknown result.
"I have a problem doing something that has been done before that didn't work," he said.
With that being said, the council voted to approve the purchase of a 60-inch concrete culvert with Tice voting against.
During the public forum portion of the meeting, Marion resident Roger Schwab asked the council for equality when it comes to street improvements.
He said he had checked with city officials and was told there was no way to equally assess street improvements that involve a cul-de-sac. Because of the larger radius of street, Schwab didn't think it was fair for landowners to be charged for the turn-around area.
"People without cul-de-sacs pay less than those with a cul-de-sac," he said, and asked the council to consider a city ordinance to address city policy for street improvements.
The city currently has an ordinance that addresses typical street improvements but does not specifically address cul-de-sacs.
"I have a second issue," Schwab continued.
He referred to a street being paved at Country Club Heights and part of it being paid by the city.
"I'm looking for equity here," Schwab said. "I want the city to treat everyone fairly."
Schwab said he was preparing to sell his house that is located at the end of South Roosevelt, along a cul-de-sac, and wanted potential buyers to be aware of future assessments.
Councilman Gene Winkler told Schwab that street improvements are considered by the council when petitions are presented by landowners. Assessments then are made to the property owners by linear foot. Tice said the city officials would look into the situation.
