[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6462754,"mediaKeyId","5796886-14f69304842c897f82f2260ba5803572","parentId",5796886,"title","Retired Marion police and firefighters urge council to restore health coverage; city cites Iowa code change","audioSeconds",1419,"startMs",3700000,"endMs",5119000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5796886-14f69304842c897f82f2260ba5803572&start=3700&end=5119","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5796886-14f69304842c897f82f2260ba5803572/thumbnail_3700000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6462754/Marion-City/Linn-County/Iowa/Retired-Marion-police-and-firefighters-urge-council-to-restore-health-coverage-city-cites-Iowa-code-change","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6462754-b2f7320c74c16ae6030dc2748ef4d6cf/orig.mp4?Expires=1771150100&Signature=NSu~CKmOVbSTWdotwSwhYMs2ZZGoJQK~Oe1Ls5-wrbQ3cg3hfItvgeTffz41u81Y0YKhaBzWk9CGEH~cqzPnWkW08ctnz68b-wGEcSE~GmY7Iaw9WwXK2pzwRlatqtWYVV48T3ggdoQBPztJPkV6wp-3lpYVOF8QGxlDuI40R1xHe6yu3dzsz0Q1LTjbcqIPxIaiBPJ64v896tgMbVxN0oZFZSkzJif-dwRlw5udvgMuQC4SLgSXscRVesMYdzE2awq0uAYEtq1zxLkEwFYryvXh6ZB9hW3BySwWrHPEjTQNZnfI6XH6A7-VpZ6wc1nvVq8JAjjb2rQjy9KGKuckVg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Marion","date","2025-09-19T10:56:51Z","article","Several retired Marion police officers and firefighters used the council’s Sept. 18 public forum to urge the city to reverse its plan to terminate comprehensive health insurance that some retirees currently receive for duty‑related disabilities. City staff said the change stems from a July 1, 2024 change referenced in the transcript as \"Iowa code 4 11,\" and that the city provided advance notice and intends to comply with the statute while offering retirees the option to remain on the city plan by paying the full premium.

What speakers said
- Wade Markley (retired fire marshal) said retirees received a letter in mid‑April notifying them of the termination, that letters were not mailed certified and some retirees opened notification weeks after mailing, and requested the city reconsider or provide better education on claims procedures. He said paying full premium would be unaffordable for many and described unclear administration of prior claims reporting.
- Lance Miller (retired police sergeant) said he retired on a work‑related disability and that while the city’s letter initially cited Iowa code changes, his own research and conversations with HR indicated the law did not require termination of existing retiree coverage. He asked the council to grandfather current retirees and wrote, \"Terminating my health care coverage may be legal, but certainly not morally correct, certainly not the morally correct thing to do.\" Miller said terminating benefits would impose costs comparable to his mortgage payment.
- Bill Peckman (retired police officer) urged the city to honor past verbal and written assurances made by HR managers and to grandfather existing retirees. He warned the decision will damage recruitment and retention of future officers and reduce morale.
- Jeff Fenerzaveld (retired firefighter-paramedic) described multiple surgeries and long‑term health impacts stemming from on‑the‑job injuries and told council that the city’s abrupt change has significant personal and financial consequences.

City response and staff explanation
A city staff member and HR referenced a law change effective July 1, 2024 (recorded in the transcript as \"Iowa code 4 11\") that prompted review of how the city provides medical coverage for duty‑related disabilities. Staff said the city must avoid paying certain deductibles that the statute limits for work‑related disability claims and that the contracts in place contained notification/termination provisions; staff said retirees were provided notice and that retirees can remain on the municipal plan by paying the full premium. Staff also said offers such as paying the full premium with higher deductibles were discussed, and that mediation requests were considered by staff and not accepted.

What the council did
No formal policy change or vote to reinstate benefits occurred at the meeting. Retirees requested council action to grandfather current beneficiaries and to pursue alternatives; staff said the city is complying with the statutory change and owed retirees notice in accordance with contract terms. Council did not adopt a motion or ordinance during the public forum; staff indicated further administrative follow‑up would occur.

Clarifying details and numbers cited
- One speaker cited a city‑provided premium figure of roughly $800 per month plus a $200 deductible resulting in an estimated monthly cost of about $966 if a retiree paid full premium; the speaker said that cost would be unaffordable for many retirees.
- Speakers said notification letters were mailed (not certified) in mid‑April and some retirees opened letters weeks later; retirees asked that future changes be grandfathered and applied only to future retirees.

Next steps and context
Retiree speakers asked council to reconsider the city’s interpretation of the statutory change and to grandfather current retirees so they keep coverage without sudden, large out‑of‑pocket premiums. City staff said they would continue administrative review and that retirees could remain on the plan if they pay full premiums; no council vote was taken at this meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","YouTube - City Council - Audio/Presentation - 9.18.25","oneSentenceSummary","Retired Marion police officers and firefighters told the City Council on Sept. 18 that a planned termination of health coverage for some duty‑disabled retirees will impose severe financial hardship; city staff said a July 1, 2024 statutory change (referred to in the meeting as 'Iowa code 4 11') required review and led to notification and proposed changes.","taxTitle","Marion City, Linn County, Iowa","taxId",55360,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6462759,"Marion council narrows Winslow Road speed limit to 30 mph, declines 'children at play' signage",2453,656000,3109000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5796886-14f69304842c897f82f2260ba5803572&start=656&end=3109","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5796886-14f69304842c897f82f2260ba5803572/thumbnail_656000.jpg","/articles/6462759/Marion-City/Linn-County/Iowa/Marion-council-narrows-Winslow-Road-speed-limit-to-30-mph-declines-children-at-play-signage","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6462759-1ac70a50678ed588fa6f1b28f4e3f9c4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771150100&Signature=F44vbgBojl3xcjfIEe5eliQXm9nz~InUZtzztdb-~W3wN36XxRWizosIUUzaIOAy6FYOOdhcioPGuvfw~QKw8ewGuSseVXdhi7VHgyZGOLxaYGEzzaWvPY7fSiBtS6D35g2Lrpy5A4hpopDtA-J-Nv7kLNWTPgtubc1cifRotcj~gaumvW8WU-VRU0O6bvy0iRMMw7tfkTn93WQLF7geV~CAtryGCz44MBVnogy~2~9DXEhUaxJ~z-z0v55kCpT41K1qmAX35rIlKpmEvQyKDnY9LpAAAoWZG7RnHUMEM3oVPt69~8e0WMeVkNbwDWn8M-RfA9cu66ZiiMTQyn~kWQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Marion City Council on Sept. 18 voted to concur with the Traffic Advisory Committee’s recommendations for Winslow Road while amending the speed recommendation: council members approved a reduction of the posted speed limit to 30 miles per hour from Tower Terrace Road to Barry’s Run Bridge, and they declined to install “children at play” signs along Winslow and the neighborhood entrances.

Residents had petitioned the council after reporting vehicles traveling at high speeds near Excelsior school, bus stops and neighborhood streets that feed to Winslow Road. Petitioners asked for a 25 mph limit; some written comments asked for 30 mph. City traffic staff (Mike) told the council the Traffic Advisory Committee’s technical recommendation was not to install “children at play” signs because such signs are not recognized by the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) and are not enforceable. Mike also said the committee’s speed recommendation initially used 35 mph based on design and speed‑study data (the 80th percentile), but staff recognized neighborhood concerns and supported a reduction of 5 mph in the affected segment.

Residents’ testimony
- Joe Lisonbee (Larkspur Drive) told the council there are school bus stops and frequent crossings and said the difference between 35 mph and 25 mph raises crash fatality risk. He asked the council to consider the petitioners’ request.
- Olivia Reger (Astor Court) described daily student pedestrian traffic, absence of a nearby crosswalk for children walking to Excelsior school and frequent passing maneuvers by motorists.
- Levi Kirkpatrick (Astor Court), who submitted the petition, told council the traffic‑classifier placement likely skewed the study data because one classifier sat where drivers naturally slow for a curve; he asked the council to add neighborhood context to the study conclusions.

Staff explanation and council response
Traffic staff explained that the MUTCD does not authorize “children at play” signs on public roads and that such signs are ineffective at changing driver behavior and can create a false sense of security. Staff also described the 80th‑percentile methodology for speed setting and that Winslow is a collector roadway (collectors typically carry faster traffic than residential streets). Staff noted options for targeted enforcement, speed feedback trailers and the possibility of creating a school zone for a short segment adjacent to the school (the city’s school‑zone policy is enforced “when children are present”).

Council discussion focused on balancing technical guidance and neighborhood safety. Several council members expressed support for lowering the speed limit to 30 mph for the specified segment and for targeted enforcement; one councilmember noted the petition originally sought 25 mph but indicated a 30‑mph drop would be reasonable.

Council action and next steps
Council first voted to receive and file the Traffic Advisory Committee report. Council then moved to concur with the Traffic Advisory Committee recommendations with an amendment to reduce the posted speed limit to 30 mph from Tower Terrace Road to Barry’s Run (Barry’s Run Bridge was the north terminus stated in the motion) and to follow the committee’s recommendation not to install “children at play” signs. The amended motion passed. City staff stated changing a posted speed requires an ordinance (three readings) and that staff would return with the ordinance for the council to consider; staff also said targeted enforcement (speed trailers, squad patrols) could be deployed.

","After neighborhood petitions and public testimony, Marion City Council concurred with the traffic advisory committee’s recommendation not to permit non‑MUTCD 'children at play' signs and amended the recommendation to reduce the posted speed to 30 mph from Tower Terrace Road to Barry’s Run Bridge.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6462764,"Council approves airport-related zoning changes, rezones land south of Marion Airport to PUD",2725,624000,3349000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5796886-14f69304842c897f82f2260ba5803572&start=624&end=3349","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5796886-14f69304842c897f82f2260ba5803572/thumbnail_624000.jpg","/articles/6462764/Marion-City/Linn-County/Iowa/Council-approves-airport-related-zoning-changes-rezones-land-south-of-Marion-Airport-to-PUD","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6462764-264b5ab94e8bedad4f9a8571f9962659/orig.mp4?Expires=1771150100&Signature=Jkm0vyBDUr~HX9N0ychdjduVmBCJZqjJm6pNBfLS279mQclGw4q0naWCO8fB9OXnmvHDo1yfEqEjg~xlkbVrp~PVwrKcaHCZiEFhm3huouC~8jA0InEuc03e4cIIf3b9VmXiIjPj1XdVJfWUvblFwOspaOJL-W8z-TEP7bIi8UGqhmz6gaR24-NXyHV4r1zKBNMP-OrcdE8vc3w-OCEdvsMYKMh0a8wOvTPlqN2Q7tc9pjEm98Dh5~yRMPjPpVNIm7CSluCYu~I4ziUGaaWr3~u2Wjf2eGq38C3vO54atw3sH5OkV-xusS7l53QWgzaDUecBrcFrZ8GJgwS1tUBSTg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Marion City Council on Sept. 18 approved a set of ordinances changing airport governance and zoning and approved a rezoning to a planned unit development (PUD) for land south of Marion Airport.

Council voted to repeal the Marion Municipal Airport Committee by approving ordinance 25-25 on final consideration. The council also approved ordinance 25-26, which amends Chapter 340-5.11 of the Marion code to update municipal airport land-use and height overlay zoning regulations (second consideration). Finally the council approved ordinance 25-27 to rezone properties south of Marion Airport Road and east of Enterprise Drive from a mix of BR (regional business), M-2 (general manufacturing) and PI (public institutional) to PUD (planned unit development); the council suspended rules and proceeded to final consideration at the meeting. Mayor Nicholas Abu Asli abstained from the final vote on ordinance 25-27 and noted he did not participate in discussion or votes on the related items.

Why it matters: The three measures alter the way airport-related development and airspace/height restrictions will be handled in Marion and change land-use designations for parcels adjacent to the airport. The rezoning converts multiple existing zoning classifications into a single PUD designation, clearing the way for coordinated development proposals by private entities that appeared on the application list.

What the council did and who is involved
- Ordinance 25-25 (repeal of Marion Municipal Airport Committee): approved on final consideration. The motion passed with an affirmative vote.
- Ordinance 25-26 (amendment to airport land-use and height overlays, Chapter 340-5.11): approved on second consideration. The council carried the motion.
- Ordinance 25-27 (rezoning to PUD): council suspended the three-reading rule and approved final consideration; motion carried with the mayor’s abstention. The applicants listed in the ordinance text included 530 Investments LLC, Luxaire Aviation LLC, Aircom Caves COA, JJL Aviation LLC, Abode Construction Inc., and Genesis Equities LLC.

Council discussion was brief. When a councilmember asked why rules were being suspended to allow final consideration at the same meeting, staff and council said the applicant requested waiver of the third reading because there had been no public comment at prior hearings. That request was granted and the council proceeded to a vote.

Next steps and context
City staff will implement the code amendments and the rezoning ordinance per the adopted texts. Any development under the new PUD designation will be subject to the city’s PUD process and any conditions included in the ordinance or future development agreements.

The council’s actions change the regulatory framework around Marion Airport and adjacent parcels; those changes will guide future applications and any airport-adjacent development proposals.

","At its Sept. 18 meeting the Marion City Council approved three ordinance actions affecting Marion Municipal Airport governance, airport overlay regulations and rezoning of property south of Marion Airport to a planned unit development; one council member abstained on the rezoning vote.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Retired Marion police and firefighters urge council to restore health coverage; city cites Iowa code change

Marion council narrows Winslow Road speed limit to 30 mph, declines 'children at play' signage

Council approves airport-related zoning changes, rezones land south of Marion Airport to PUD