City council approves grant for youth computer classes at library
MARION - The spending of funds from a $19,875 grant from Secretary of State and State Librarian Jesse White to Marion Carnegie Library was approved in a 5-0 vote on Monday night by the Marion City Council.
The funds, coming from White's Project Next Generation, which focuses on technology training for children, will be used to develop classes at the library that will teach youngsters how to write computer code.
City Administrator Gail West said the library plans to hold monthly "Makers' Space Club" meetings for youngsters to learn to write computer software code.
"There is enough money to hire an instructor," noted city Information Technology Director Terance Henry.
The council, with Mayor Anthony Rinella and commissioners Angelo Hightower, Doug Patton, Jim Webb and John Goss, voted 5-0 to approve spending the grant funds.
In other business, the council approved:
• Cheri Williams as shelver at Marion Carnegie Library for $9 an hour, filling the position recently vacated by Alexis Wagner.
• Joshua Wilcut as laborer in the Sewer Department.
• $9,000 for an Exmark mower for the Cemetery Department. The mower purchased from F.B. McAfoos and Company of Benton in May for $11,200 with a trade-in of a used Exmark mower valued at $2,200.
• $11,450.54 to Freeburg-based Sentinel Emergency Solutions for repairs to swivel parts of Marion Fire Department's 2004 ladder truck. The new parts have a five-year warranty.
• $9,978 to Ramsey Excavating for work to prepare for decorative lights on North Market Street from First Southern Bank to a half-block short of Jackson Street. The money comes from Hub TIF District Funds.
• A new part-time HUB pool manager position for Andrew Allen at $14 an hour.
• Additional job classification for Trevor Gunther as lead lifeguard at $12 an hour.
• The resignation of Fernando Emmanuel Castillo as lighting designer at the Marion Cultural and Civic Center. Hired earlier this month, Castillo was on the job for four days before taking a better offer to run lighting for a touring show.
• The reappointment of Yolonde B. Peterson as chairman of the Marion Cultural and Civic Center Board.
• The reappointment of Susan K. Selock and Dr. Keith B. Wilson to a three-year terms on the Boyton Street Community Center Board.
• Demitri Cosby-Lacy and Andrea R. Beverly as new members of the Boyton Street Community Center Board. Hightower abstained on the 4-0-1 vote for Beverly.
• The resignation of Kathy Jones, longtime clerical aid at the Marion Senior Citizens Center.
• $13,500 to the Pony Baseball and Softball International to hold next year's Colt League World Series.
• $5,000 donation to the Knights of Columbus to fund the KofC's annual July 4 fireworks display.</group><group id="A6AA5E35-4280-468E-A89A-DD528B0B4283" type="seoLabels">