The Marion City Council meeting held on May 9, 2025, focused on the approval of upgrades to a critical traffic signal at the intersection of Highway 13 and Highway 151. The public hearing opened with a presentation detailing the planned improvements, which aim to enhance traffic flow and safety at one of the city's busiest intersections.

Key upgrades include replacing the existing traffic signal cabinet with a modern NEMA TS 2 type cabinet, installing a new controller and conflict monitor, and adding a battery backup system to maintain operations during power outages. The project also involves relocating the emergency vehicle preemption system, which allows emergency responders to receive green lights as they approach the intersection. Additional features include a pan-tilt-zoom camera for monitoring traffic and advanced video detection systems for all directions of traffic.

The project has a budget of $140,640, which is 32% above the engineer's estimate. Despite this, city officials expressed confidence in proceeding, citing available funds in the traffic signal budget. The completion date is set for October 17, 2025, with penalties for delays to minimize disruption to traffic.

During the meeting, no public comments were received either in favor or opposition to the project. The council moved to approve the project calendar, which includes necessary resolutions for the traffic signal cabinet replacement. Discussions also touched on the importance of scheduling work to avoid peak traffic hours and the challenges of estimating costs for such a busy intersection.

Overall, the council's decision to proceed with the upgrades reflects a commitment to improving traffic safety and efficiency in Marion.