Marion Leadership in Action representatives asked the Marion City Council on Monday for a $20,000 matching gift to purchase two winter “igloos” and pay for site improvements, electrical work and furnishings to create small enclosed gathering spaces downtown.

“We will be fundraising half,” Jim Attie, a member of the Leadership in Action class, told council. “So our ask this evening is for a matching gift of $20,000.” The class said it will run a series of fundraisers with local restaurants, a 50/50 raffle and other events through March, with a fundraising target date of March 31.

Mary Francik, who also spoke for the class, said the project team has consulted with the Chamber of Commerce, the fire department and the parks department and plans to transfer ownership and operations to the Chamber and parks once the purchase and site work are complete. “The fundraising efforts will go from now until the March,” Francik said.

Presenters described the igloos as a way to attract visitors to downtown during winter and to create photo-friendly, small-group gathering spaces. They said the igloos under consideration have an occupancy limit of nine and that final siting is still to be determined so electrical and code requirements are met.

Council members asked several operational questions, including where the igloos would be placed, whether they would make Uptown Plaza congested and who would manage reservations and insurance. Tom, a member of the project team, told council that code and fire requirements will guide site selection and that current city code treats a temporary structure as allowable for up to 90 days unless the council adopts a different policy. The presenters said the group is developing a policy-for-use that would also apply to private businesses if they later want to install similar structures.

Council members generally praised the downtown beautification work and suggested staff and the Chamber return with a final site plan, ownership and insurance arrangements, and finalized reservation and rental policies before the city commits matching funds.

Next steps: Leadership in Action will continue fundraising and coordinate with the Chamber and city departments on site selection and a policy-for-use; council asked staff to follow up with a detailed plan and timing.