After citing Marion's major 2009 projects and looking ahead to the next year, Mayor Paul Rehn took liberties with one of President John F. Kennedy's speeches, changing it to say: "Ask not what your city can do for you, ask what you can do for your city."

Speaking at the annual State of the City Address at the Best Western Longbranch last Tuesday, January 26, Rehn encouraged Marion residents to contribute to the community by voting, getting informed and volunteering, as well as being counted on the 2010 Census.

Rehn stressed the Census count as vital for ensuring that Marion receives state and federal funds that reflect its accurate size.

These funds will prove vital as Marion moves forward from the past year, which saw a number of planning projects, including the Chamber of Commerce-spearheaded Imagine8 community visioning process, plans for the sub area north of 29th Ave. and the 7th Ave. Corridor Redevelopment concept. Rehn touched on each of these over the course of his speech.

Over the past four decades, Rehn noted that the city had grown from a 1970's population of roughly 18,000 to over 26,000 in 2000. Marion's population is expected to top 34,000 on the 2010 Census.

This increased growth should guarantee a larger portion of the one-percent Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) revenues that started coming in last summer. Rehn recounted the initial March 2009 rejection of the tax by voters and its subsequent passage two months later. The city is allocating the funds from the countywide tax to projects such as street improvements, park and trail development and community improvement projects like Imagine8 initiatives.

The city also received state dollars for developing the Marion Enterprise Center (MEC), a commercial and industrial business park east of Marion. Rehn said that two businesses have already expressed an interest in locating at the MEC.

Projects on the horizon in 2010, Rehn said, include planning with other metro communities to extending Tower Terrace Rd. from Hwy. 13 to Interstate 380, the approval of a new residential/commercial neighborhood centered around the future intersection of 35th St. and Tower Terrace Rd. and drafting a request for submittals relating to a plasma arc waste-to-energy facility.

With the development of current and future projects, Rehn said that Marion would continue to be a quality community.

"Marion will continue to be a great place," he said. "We are financially strong. We are forward-thinking and have a great staff of professional employees."