The City of Marion is seeking bids to farm land located within a city park. Marion City Parks Superintendent Mike Cheney asked the Airport, Lands, and Buildings Committee to allow him to advertise for bids and enter into a contract to lease about 26 acres of Sawyer-Ludwig Park for farming. The section to be leased is in the south and southwest section of the park.
Cheney told the committee that the land was farmed in the late 1980’s, but has been unused since. He said the contract would be a two-year lease and could then renew. He estimated it would bring the City a little over $5,000 per year.
Committee chair Ayers Ratliff asked if the lease would impact any plans for additional road access to the park or proposed bike trails. Cheney said leasing the land for farming would not affect these plans because of the time frame. He said it would be several years before those access plans would move forward and the lease would be up for renewal by that point.
Council member Jason Schaber asked how the potential farmer would access the land. Cheney said there is access off of Bellefontaine Avenue and that the farmer should not have to move through the used portion of the park.
The issue was brought to the full City Council at their meeting later in the evening. Council member Josh Daniels said that when he was a commissioner he heard from numerous residents that they loved the deer that lived in that area and did not want them disturbed. He said he simply wanted Council to know they may have some upset residents over the deer.
Council voted to suspend the required three readings and to approve the leasing of the park property to the highest bidder. Daniels voted against the issue.
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