Panel sends airport taxiway project to council.Marion Municipal Airport (KMNN), Ohio.

MARION - Construction of a taxiway at Marion Municipal Airport moved a step closer on Monday night.

City Council's finance committee voted to send to council an ordinance to authorize a contract with Park Enterprise Construction Co. Inc. for the building of the taxiway.

Dan Stover, aviation services director at the airport, said work likely will begin in early November on the $316,517 project. The city has been awarded a $300,044 grant by the Federal Aviation Administration, or 95 percent of the total cost, while the city also would spend $15,825, or 5 percent of the expense, from its airport improvement fund.

Stover has said the lack of a hangar development area with taxiway access prompted two corporations not to use a hangar at the airport. He said the project was scaled back by $40,000 "due to the continuing uncertainty of FAA funding."

The finance committee also sent to council an ordinance to advertise the 2011 sidewalk program for bids. The project will be paid from a Community Development Block Grant distress grant. Various sidewalks throughout the city will be improved, said Terry Lively, acting city engineer.

Council's streets and sewers committee voted to put on council's agenda an ordinance to authorize a contract with Smith Paving and Excavating of Norwalk at a cost of $115,748 for construction of sidewalk ramps in conjunction with the state and city resurfacing projects.

Nucor Steel Marion's request to vacate part of Cheney Avenue was the subject of brief discussion. Councilman Mike Thomas, streets and sewers committee chairman, said the committee will discuss the request further at its Oct. 18 meeting.

Nucor has asked for approval of the ordinance, which would vacate Cheney Avenue between lots 8785/8804 at the south end and lot 8756 at the north end, and a 13-foot-wide north/south alley west of lots 8756 to 8760. The company's request received the OK of the city planning commission.

Dave Sumoski, Nucor Steel Marion vice president and general manager, has said the request is primarily for the safety and security of the neighborhood. Currently, public motor and pedestrian traffic uses the street, which bisects the Nucor site.

Ken Lengieza, city/county regional planning director, said the matter should proceed deliberately to allow public comment.

Three primary factors to be considered, Lengieza said, are city fire department stipulations for allowing fire equipment passage through a gate on Cheney Avenue to provide fire service to the area, construction of a turnaround at the north end and improvement of the Barks Road/Cheney Avenue intersection.

Blaine Avenue resident Charlie Blevins expressed concern about the incidence of sanitary sewer back-ups in the area of Blaine and Olney avenues and Windsor and Church streets. Blevins suggested the city install backwater valves to help prevent such back-ups during rain storms.

City Service Director Jay Shoup said Blevins' proposal was worth exploring, but added Shoup wants to complete a study of the problem. Blevins agreed with Shoup's approach and his expectation Shoup would return to council with further information next spring.

Thomas asked Roger Baldinger, interim water pollution control superintendent, to compile a list of sewer back-up complaints throughout the city.

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