Summary

Marion City Council approves utility, planning, and vendor rules

MarionMay 26, 20262 min read

At a glance

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The City Council approved a $46,000 roof replacement at wastewater buildings, an $89,900 stormwater study, a new internet contract for several city facilities, and an ordinance regulating transient merchants and mobile vendors.

Projects mentioned

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Heights TIF B. Discuss/Approve FY27 TIF

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City Council

Topics discussed

TransportationBudget & TaxPublic SafetyCommerceHousingUtilities

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What this means

The Council signed off on several projects that affect city services and downtown management. It approved roof repairs at wastewater facility buildings, a stormwater study to help address drainage problems south of Route 13, and internet service for multiple city buildings. The Council also adopted a rule requiring licenses and fees for transient merchants, itinerant vendors, peddlers, mobile food vendors, and temporary outdoor sales, with some exceptions for farmer’s market and approved event vendors. In addition, the Council approved the sale of a city property at 1104 Midway Court for $189,000 and promoted Officer Steve Sloan to Sergeant.

Key decisions

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Approved consent agenda items, including prior meeting minutes and reappointments to the Marion Carnegie Library Board.
Promoted Officer Steve Sloan to Sergeant, effective June 4.
Approved $46,000 in roof replacements for wastewater facility buildings.
Approved the annual Police Pension Fund required reporting, showing $1,851,159.72 turned over for the fiscal year.
Approved an $89,900 stormwater study from Morningside Drive to Crab Orchard Creek.
Adopted Ordinance 4115 amending a redevelopment agreement with Marion Heights, Inc.
Approved an internet service contract for City Hall, Boyton Street Community Center, Street Department, Animal Control, and the Sewer Department.
Adopted Ordinance 4116 regulating transient merchants, itinerant vendors, peddlers, mobile food vendors, and temporary outdoor sales, with a $50 annual license fee and $50 application fee.
Approved the sale of real property at 1104 Midway Court for $189,000.

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Meeting information

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One Time Event

May 26, 2026, 5:30 PMMarion City Hall, 350 Tower Square, Marion IL 62959completed

Agenda

CALL TO ORDER
1. ROLL CALL
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
3. PUBLIC COMMENTS/AUDIENCE TO VISITORS (Subject to Ordinance No. 3128 as amended by Ordinance No. 3134)
4. CONSENT AGENDA
A. MINUTES
Decision: CONSENT AGENDA
1) Discuss/Approve minutes from the May 11, 2026 city council meeting.
Decision: CONSENT AGENDA
B. BOARD APPOINTMENTS
Decision: CONSENT AGENDA
1) Approve the reappointment of Jenna Griffith and Linda Walker to the Marion Carnegie Library Board.
Decision: CONSENT AGENDA
NEW BUSINESS
5. POLICE DEPARTMENT
A. Discuss/Approve the recommendation of the Merit Board, Chief Fitts, and Commissioner Barwick to promote Officer Steve Sloan to Sergeant, filling a vacancy caused by the upcoming retirement of Sergeant William Huddleston.
Decision: POLICE DEPARTMENT
6. SEWER DEPARTMENT
A. Discuss/Approve replacing the roofs on the following wastewater facility buildings: lab, middle shop, and grit building per the low bid of $46,000 from Vaughn's Roofing; a budgeted item.
Decision: SEWER DEPARTMENT
7. TREASURER'S OFFICE
A. Discuss/Approve Police Pension Fund required reporting per 40 ILCS 5/3-141.
Decision: TREASURER'S OFFICE
8. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND MUNICIPAL PLANNING
A. Discuss/Approve a stormwater study proposal from Horner Shifrin from Morningside Drive to Crab Orchard Creek.
The need for this is longstanding but given the potential subdivision development east of Lincoln School, the need is more acute. This is non-budgeted, but there are available funds in the Project Fund to pay for the proposal. | reports=1
Decision: ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND MUNICIPAL PLANNING
B. Discuss/Approve FY27 TIF Grant applications received through May 22, 2026.
Decision: ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND MUNICIPAL PLANNING
C. Discuss/Approve Ordinance 4115 amending a redevelopment agreement with Marion Heights Inc.
In March, I brought an Ordinance to the council amending the Marion Heights agreement. This ordinance rescinds that agreement. After further discussion with our TIF counsel, we determined that we needed to better insulate the City from paying Heights TIF costs out of the new TIF XX. Doug has always had the ability to claim $1.2M more in costs from his original Marion Heights agreement. He is buying land in TIF XX and applying those costs to his Heights and Heights II costs. His reimbursements on Heights expire this year, and Heights II expires in 2029. Instead of paying costs out of TIF XX, this eliminates our ability to do so and sunsets his incentives, fully paid or not, in 2029. | reports=1
Decision: ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND MUNICIPAL PLANNING
9. PUBLIC AFFAIRS
A. Discuss/Approve internet service contract for City Hall, Boyton Street Community Center, Street Department, Animal Control, and the Sewer Department.
Decision: PUBLIC AFFAIRS
B. Discuss/Approve Ordinance regulating transient merchants, itinerant vendors, peddlers, mobile food vendors, and temporary outdoor sales within the City of Marion.
Many of the transient food trucks and merchants that set up shop are not paying sales tax. You may remember a few years back, with the fireworks vendors, they argued that they did $3M in sales one summer in Marion and were questioning why we would ban them from operating. Like them, other transient vendors are not remitting the same taxes that all of our brick-and-mortar establishments are expected to remit as well. While lengthy, this is a culmination of other towns that have enacted similar ordinances to establish rules for transient vendors to operate like traditional retailers. | reports=1
Decision: PUBLIC AFFAIRS
C. Discuss/Adopt Resolution 2026-17 authorizing the sale of real property commonly known as 1104 Midway Ct.
Decision: PUBLIC AFFAIRS
10. COMMISSIONER REPORTS
11. MISCELLANEOUS
12. CLOSED/EXECUTIVE SESSION (IF NEEDED) LITIGATION, PROPERTY, PERSONNEL.
13. MOTION FOR ADJOURNMENT