Mayor Scott Schertzer is announcing that all City departments will be closed on Thursday, November 27th for the Thanksgiving holiday.  Offices in City Hall will also be closed on Friday, November 28th.

The Sanitation and Streets Department will not collect trash, recycling, yard waste, or leaves on Thursday, November 27th.  Refuse collection will resume on Friday, November 28th with crews collecting both Thursday and Friday’s refuse.  Residents who normally have Thursday sanitation service are asked to have their refuse at curbside by 7:00 a.m. on Friday.  Leaf collection will also resume on Friday.  Residents may rake leaves to the tree lawn area to be vacuumed; place the leaves in biodegradable paper bags for City pickup; or take biodegradable paper bagged leaves to the free drop off site at 560 Barks Rd. W. (Park Enterprise Construction).  There is no charge for the leaf drop off; however, proof of City residence may be required.

Marion Area Transit buses will not operate on Thursday, November 27th or Friday, November 28th.  Normal bus service will resume on Monday, December 1st.

Marion Senior Center will be closed on Thursday, November 27th and Friday, November 28th.  The Senior Center will re-open for regular business on Monday, December 1st.

Necessary services including fire, police, and airport will operate as usual.

Mayor Scott Schertzer is announcing that offices in City Hall will be closed on Tuesday, November 11, 2014 in observance of Veteran’s Day. 

The following city departments will operate as noted:

• Sanitation crews will collect garbage and recycling.  Customers normally having refuse collected on Tuesday are requested to have their collections at curbside by 7:00 am. 

• The Marion Senior Center will be open normal operating hours.  On this day, the Center will be honoring and providing a complimentary lunch for all local Veterans.    The 12:00 pm luncheon will be followed by a performance of patriotic music by Sweet Adelines and a special military-focused presentation.  Honor Flight information will also be available.  Dinner tickets are $3 per person (FREE for veterans).  Contact the Senior Center at 387-6100 by November 7, 2014 to RSVP or for additional information.

• Marion Area Transit buses will not be in operation on November 11.

Essential services including fire, police, and airport will operate as usual. 

The Mayor would also like to remind residents of the options available for disposal of leaves:

1)  Leaves may be raked to the tree lawn area to be vacuumed (Residents are reminded that leaves are not to be raked into the street);

2)  Leaves may be placed in biodegradable paper bags (limit 3 per week) for City sanitation workers to pick up; or

3)  Leaves can be taken to the free drop off location at 560 Barks Rd. W. in biodegradable paper-bags.  Proof of City residence may be required.

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.

Trick-or-Treat for the City of Marion will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 pm on Friday, October 31.

In 1999, Marion City Council pass an ordinance which set October 31 from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm as Trick-or-Treat night in the City of Marion, unless October 31 falls on a Sunday in which Trick-or-Treat night will be observed on the preceding Saturday.  As a result of the passage of this Ordinance in 1999, the date of Trick-or-Treat cannot be moved unless legislation was presented before full City Council.

Halloween Safety Tips:

• Trick-or-Treat in a group or with an adult.
• Accept treats only in doorways.  Never go into a house.
• Visit homes that have the porch light on.
• Carry a flashlight.
• Walk, don't run, and stay on sidewalks.
• Look both ways before crossing streets and only cross the street at corners.
• Wear reflective clothing.
• Be sure your costume is not too long ... you don't want to trip or fall.
• Shoes should fit comfortably (even if they don't match your costume).
• Carry only flexible swords, knives, and props.
• Consider using "face paint" instead of a mask.  If you wear a mask, be sure you can see out of it clearly.
• Be sure your parents always know where you are going to trick-or-treat and stay in familiary neighborhoods.
• Do not ride a bicycle.  Your costume might get tangled in the wheels.
• Keep away from candles and open fires.
• Be cautious of animals.
• Let parents check your treats before you eat them.
• Never eat unwrapped candy, opened candy, or fruit given to you on Halloween.

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.