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Marion council unanimously approves consent agenda, personnel hires, TIF agreement and timber contract
Summary
The Marion City Council approved its consent agenda and several actions including hiring a school security officer and two firefighters, a TIF 2 redevelopment agreement for 207 N. Bentley St., a timber-sales contract with Rustic Wood Products, a $10,000 homeless-voucher grant and roof repairs funded from the capital replacement fund.
The Marion City Council on Oct. 11 approved a slate of routine and substantive items, including personnel hires, economic-development agreements, a timber-sales contract and capital repairs.
Council members first approved the consent agenda without any removals. Commissioner Barwick moved and the council voted to hire Aaron Deon as a school security officer at the pay rate agreed between Marion Unit 2 schools and the city. The council also approved hiring Bronson Nestler and Drake Graat as two new firefighters; both hires were reported to begin Oct. 21, 2024.
On economic development, the council approved a packet of fiscal-year TIF grant applications received through Oct. 11 and adopted Ordinance 3980, a TIF 2 Redevelopment Agreement with the Ruth E. Malone Trust for residential renovations at 207 North Bentley Street.
On a timber matter raised during public affairs, the council approved a timber-sales contract with Kurt Rehagen doing business as Rustic Wood Products. A timber broker who identified himself as John had described the proposed harvest of a narrow rail‑right‑of‑way strip adjacent to city property and said the work would be selective rather than a clear cut. Council members asked that the city receive the contractor’s $5 million liability-insurance certificate and scale tickets documenting board‑foot measurements and payments; the council approved the contract contingent on receipt of those documents.
The council also approved renewal of the city’s property and casualty insurance through the risk pool used by the city, noting an increase that staff said will be built into next year’s budget. Council approved an additional $10,000 in ARPA funds to the Southern Illinois Coalition for the Homeless for emergency cold‑weather housing vouchers after staff said earlier funds had been exhausted.
Finally, staff presented three roofing bids and the council authorized roof replacements on the main bank/City Hall building components, the ATM building and the canopy using the capital replacement fund; staff said the work was necessary after recent water intrusion near a server room and that the repairs will be paid from funds set aside for capital replacement rather than the general fund.
All votes recorded on the motions in the meeting transcript were unanimous in favor (Commissioner Patton, Commissioner Barwick, Commissioner Web, Commissioner Stacklin, Mayor Absher). The council requested copies of insurance and scale‑ticket documentation for the timber contract before work begins and asked staff to include the insurance premium increase in next year’s budget during forthcoming budget preparations.
What’s next: Several items (implementation of the timber contract, proof of contractor insurance, and scheduling for roof work) require follow-up by staff; the council did not schedule any executive session and adjourned the meeting.
