Mayor Scott Schertzer is announcing upcoming closures that will affect services over the Thanksgiving holiday for City of Marion residents.  The following closures and modifications in operational schedules are being announced for various city departments:

• All offices in City Hall will be closed on Thursday, November 26 and Friday, November 27, 2020.
   
• The Sanitation and Streets Department will not collect trash, recycling, yard waste, or leaves on Thursday, November 26, 2020.  Services by these crews will resume on Friday, November 27, with the Sanitation Department collecting refuse, recycling and yard waste for both Thursday and Friday on this day; therefore, residents who normally have Thursday sanitation  and  recycling  service  are  asked  to  have  their  collections  at  curbside  by 7:00 a.m. on Friday.  Leaf collection will also resume on Friday.
   
• Marion Area Transit will be closed and have no bus service available on Thursday, November 26 or Friday, November 27.  Bus service will resume normal hours of operation on Monday, November 30, 2020.
   
• Marion Senior Center continues to be closed during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic to protect the health and welfare of its members.  Contact the Senior Center (740-387-5444) for senior transportation available weekdays from 8:00 am - 3:30 pm.  The Senior Center will be closed on Thanksgiving Day (Thursday, November 26) with no transportation available that day.  Transportation will be available for dialysis appointments only on Friday, November 27.

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

With COVID-19 cases rising at an alarmingly rapid rate, Mayor Schertzer issued an Executive Order for the operation of Marion City Hall.  Highlights of this Executive Order are shown below.

• As of Monday, November 23, 2020, City Hall will be open to the public on Monday through Friday from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm until further notice.  These hours are in effect for all departments in City Hall, with the exception of Marion Municipal Court and Probation.  Contact the Marion Municipal Court Office at 740-387-2020 option 1 or Misdemeanor Probation at 740-387-2020 option 2 to obtain the hours of operation for either of these offices.
   
• In order to help reduce potential exposure during this new wave of the virus, City officials request that only one person per party enter City Hall to conduct necessary business.
   
• Due to a statewide mandate issued on July 23, 2020, individuals entering City Hall will be required to wear a facial covering at all times.  This mandate is in effect for any person that is 10 years of age and older.  Other alternatives will be offered to those that cannot wear a mask due to medical conditions or disability.
   
• At the City Hall security screening area, all individuals will be required to state the reason for their business, complete a temperature check, and sign in for contact tracing purposes.

Please note, if circumstances change and conditions warrant, modifications will be made to the services provided by the City of Marion.  If this occurs, information will be relayed to the media and shared on the City of Marion website.

Ohio Heartland Community Action Commission has announced that they may be able assist residents with their sewer and sanitation bills.  Residents should call 740-383-2154 ext. 529 for additional details and information.

Mayor Scott Schertzer is announcing that in observance of the Veterans Day holiday, many City of Marion departments will be closed on Wednesday, November 11, 2020; however, some departments will operate on a regular schedule for the day.  The following departments will operate as noted below:

• All offices in City Hall will be closed.
• Sanitation crews will collect garbage, recycling and yard waste on November 11.  It is requested that customers with Wednesday sanitation service have their collections at curbside by 7:00 am.
• Bus service through Marion Area Transit will be closed on November 11.  Marion Area Transit will resume normal hours of operation on Thursday, November 12.
• Marion Senior Center will be closed on November 11.  The Center continues to be closed during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic to protect the health and welfare of our members.  Contact the Senior Center (740-387-5444) for transportation options that are available through the Center on this day.

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

City residents are also reminded that yard waste and fall leaf pick-up will continue through Friday, December 11, 2020.  The options available for disposal of leaves are as follows:

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 or parking lane);
2. Leaves may be placed in biodegradable paper bags (limit 3 per week) for City sanitation workers to pick up; or
3. Leaves may be taken to the free drop off location at 560 Barks Rd. W. in biodegradable paper-bags.  Proof of City residency may be required.

    

Mayor Scott Schertzer is announcing that leaf collection for city residents will begin on Monday, October 26 and continue through Friday, December 11, 2020.  The three options for disposal of leaves by city residents are:
 

For additional information, contact the Sanitation/Streets Department at 740-382-1479.

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

In 1999, Marion City Council passed legislation which set "Trick-or-Treat" night within the City of Marion for October 31 of each year between the hours of 5:30 pm and 7:30 pm, unless October 31 falls on a Sunday.  If October 31 falls on a Sunday, "Trick-or-Treat" night will be observed on the preceding Saturday.  As a result of the passage of this Ordinance, the date for Trick-or-Treat must be held as noted above.

While “Trick-or-Treat” is an annual tradition, parents/guardians are encouraged to exercise their own judgment on whether they allow children to participate.

Suggestions and Tips for 2020:

• Practice Social Distancing;
• Wear a face covering;
• It is suggested that individuals trick-or-treat with family members only (do not carpool with other neighbors or go out in large groups of friends);
• It is suggested that adults hand candy to each child rather than allowing children to grab candy from a bowl or a pile which reduces the number of hands touching the remaining candy and potentially spreading the virus;
• Everyone in the household should monitor for symptoms leading up to trick-or-treat night.  If someone in the household is sick or may have had contact with a positive COVID-19 case, stay home and/or do not give out candy. 

Inclement weather:  In the event of inclement weather, the set date will not change. Parents/guardians are encouraged to exercise their own judgment on whether they allow children to participate.