Marion council approves multiple public-safety hires, a vehicle sale and a deannexation petition

Marion’s City Council approved a string of personnel actions and routine items, including hiring multiple public-safety staff, authorizing the sale of a city vehicle and approving a petition to disconnect a parcel from city limits.

Commissioner Barwick moved and the council approved the Merit Board and Police Chief Fitz’s recommendations to hire Mason Summers as a patrol officer (start date Jan. 20, 2025), Veronica Miles as a probationary dispatcher (start Jan. 14, 2025), and Corey Strong as a probationary dispatcher (start Jan. 15, 2025). Summers, who was present, was sworn in at the meeting and said he is a member of the Army Reserves and from Benton. "I'm like excited to be a part of Marion," Summers said after being seated.

The council also approved hiring Mark Bundren as a school security officer under terms negotiated between Marion Unit 2 schools and the city. Commissioners then approved ordinance 3996 authorizing the sale of a 2015 Ford Explorer to Carrier Mills for $3,000.

Under item 6A the council considered a petition from John and Marjorie Gordon seeking disconnection (deannexation) of their property; staff explained the parcel lies on the city’s northeastern edge and abuts Spillertown, whose subdivision standards the petitioner prefers. The council approved ordinance 3995 approving the Gordon petition; some council members said they felt uneasy but ultimately voted in favor.

All motions described above passed on roll call votes with Commissioners Patton, Barwick, Web, Stan and Mayor Absher recorded as voting "yes."