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$250,000 USDA grant for municipal garage de-obligated; Street/Parks superintendent to retire
Summary
Mayor Chris Goke told the Marion Common Council the $250,000 USDA grant for a new municipal garage was de-obligated for lack of progress. The council also recognized Street/Parks Superintendent John Hoffman, who will retire Feb. 18 after 21+ years of service.
Mayor Chris Goke announced at the Marion Common Council meeting on Jan. 12 that a $250,000 U.S. Department of Agriculture grant earmarked for a new municipal garage had been de-obligated "due to lack of progress," removing the federal funding from the project. The announcement came during the mayor's report and followed routine department updates earlier in the meeting.
The de-obligation leaves the municipal garage project without that anticipated funding; the council did not take further action on the garage at the meeting. No alternate funding or timeline was presented.
Mayor Goke also presented a plaque to John Hoffman, the city's Street/Parks Superintendent, recognizing more than 21 years of service. The mayor announced Hoffman’s retirement effective Feb. 18, 2026. Hoffman reported operational updates elsewhere on the agenda, including repair of six Main Street streetlights and plans to install the seasonal ice rink the following day.
The council did not vote on any new funding for the municipal garage during the meeting. Next steps for the garage project were listed as "nothing new" on the agenda; any future decisions or funding proposals were not specified at the Jan. 12 meeting.
