News from the City of Marion

Mayor Scott Schertzer is announcing that leaf collection for city residents will begin Monday, October 20 and continue through Friday, December 12, 2014.  The three options for disposal of leaves by city residents are:

1. Place leaves in the tree lawn area to be vacuumed.

   A vacuum-type collector will collect leaves raked to the tree lawn area, with each street having leaves collected during the leaf pick-up season.

   As a note, residents should NOT rake leaves into the street in order to keep from blocking catch basins and drains, so water can drain properly into the city’s storm sewer system.
    

2. Place leaves in biodegradable paper bags for City pick up, which will follow yard waste limits of a pick-up of 3 bags per week.

   Residents wishing to bag leaves may do so by placing them in clearly marked biodegradable paper bags sold at local retail stores.  The filled bags should be placed at curbside for pick-up.  The City will continue to follow its yard waste limits of collecting 3 bags and 3 bundles per residence per week.
    

3. Take biodegradable paper bagged leaves to 560 Barks Rd. W.

   Park Enterprise Construction located at 560 Barks Rd. W. is the location of the City’s free drop off site.  This location will be open to city residents free of charge.  Residents may call 223-7275 for Park Enterprise hours of operation.  Proof of city residency is required.  PLEASE NOTE:  If non-biodegradable bags are used, leaves must be emptied from the bag at site.

For additional information, contact the Sanitation/Streets Department at 382-1479.

The City of Marion has upgraded to a new automated phone system.  When a citizen calls the City at 387-2020, they will be greeted with an automated message with menu options helping to direct them to one of several city departments.  This new system will automatically connect various departments without using a live person.

The City’s new Mitel phone system utilizes Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP), which is an automated calling technology that uses the internet instead of traditional phone lines.  Moving to an automated phone system allows the City to handle incoming calls more efficiently and provides the City with the ability to include a professional greeting and/or message that can be updated throughout the year as needed.  Other benefits include flexible calling between departments and the efficient handling of multiple incoming calls simultaneously.

When calling the City, callers will be asked to listen to the menu options and then make their menu selection using their keypad.  Callers will respond to the voice prompts and be routed to the right extension, or else request a staff directory listing to find the extension number of the person that they want to reach.  

The City is reminding residents that 911 should only be used in emergency situations and should not be used to bypass the automated phone system or to be connected to a department.

Mayor Scott Schertzer is announcing that on Tuesday, September 2nd at 6:00 pm detours will begin being posted in the downtown Marion area to accommodate activities for the 2014 Marion Popcorn Festival.  Streets will remain closed until the festival’s conclusion at midnight on Saturday and may remain closed into early Sunday morning for festival clean-up.  The following downtown streets will be closed to traffic beginning September 2nd at 6:00 pm:

• Center St. between State St. and Campbell St.
• Church St. between Prospect St. and Main St
• Main St. between Church St. and Huber St.
• Prospect St. between Church St. and George St.
• Oak St. between Center St. and Huber St.

Closure of a number of area streets will begin at 4:00 pm on Thursday, September 4th in preparation for and during the Popcorn Parade. The following is a list of these street changes and closures:

• Kensington St. will become two-way at 4:00 pm.
• East Center St. between Kensington St. and State St. will close at 5:00 pm.
• Forest Lawn Blvd. from Center St. to Mt. Vernon Ave. will close at 5:00 pm.

• The following streets will be closed between East Center St. and East Church St.:
       -  Pennsylvania Ave.                        -  Merchant Ave.                            -  Homer St.
       -  Kenmore Ave.                              -  Clover Ave.

• The following streets will be closed between East Center St. and Wilson Ave.:
       -  Chicago Ave.                               -  Boone Ave.                                -  Franconia Ave.
       -  Johnson St.                                 -  True Ave.

• The following streets will be closed until the conclusion of the parade:
  -  State St. between Center St. and Washington St.
  -  Main St. between Church St. and Hill St.
  -  Delaware Ave. between Hill St. and Washington St.
  -  Hill St. between Main St. and State St.

As a result of the various street closures taking place in preparation for the Popcorn Festival Parade, on Thursday, September 4th, Marion Area Transit will be making final pick-ups at 2:00 pm, with final drop offs scheduled for 2:30 pm.  Normal operating hours will resume on Friday, September 5th. 

The City Parks Department will be fogging for mosquitoes on Friday mornings from 5:00 - 8:00 am, as weather conditions permit and as needed.  City Parks and high mosquito population areas will be targeted during the fogging times.

Residents with respiratory conditions are advised to keep doors and windows closed during these hours.