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Marion Council adopts multiple emergency measures, agrees to seek design money for leachate treatment
Summary
The City Council on July 13 suspended readings and approved a package of ordinances and resolutions including PY2025 CDBG projects, a $150,000 JAG radio grant application, a YMCA scholarship appropriation, a water‑pollution loan design application and the 2027 tax budget.
Marion City Council on July 13 adopted a series of emergency ordinances and resolutions to keep city projects and funding on schedule.
Council unanimously approved an ordinance authorizing the safety service director to prepare plans, advertise for bids and enter contracts for the PY2025 Community Development Block Grant projects — work that includes Fairground and Leaders Deep Street Trail work, a rec‑center roof and HVAC upgrades at Leap and Outreach. Councilmember Rollins told colleagues the finance committee recommended adoption.
The council suspended rules and approved an ordinance to apply for the 2026 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG). Rollins said the grant request is for $150,000 with a 25% match and that staff are pursuing a waiver; staff clarified the request covers radios and related equipment, not officer salaries. Chief McDonald said the department needs about 70 radios and that grant awards in practice have been smaller than requested.
Council also adopted an ordinance accepting a donation for YMCA scholarships (one councilmember abstained on that item), and it adopted a resolution to apply for a Water Pollution Control loan to fund the design of a leachate treatment facility. Water Pollution Control Superintendent Matt Ice told the council the design phase would be covered by a 100%‑forgiven loan and that construction funding has not yet been awarded.
The tax budget for fiscal 2027 was presented, a public hearing opened and the council adopted the tax budget to meet the county deadline. Council approved an insurance‑proceeds appropriation related to residential fire losses as routine housekeeping.
Most of the measures were advanced under emergency declarations and via suspension of the three‑reading rule to expedite procurement and grant timelines. Where votes were recorded, suspensions and adoptions generally carried with strong majorities or unanimously.
Next steps: staff will advertise bids for awarded CDBG projects; the administration will complete the JAG and WPCF loan applications and report back on grant match or award details.
