Marion aldermen hear update on ongoing projects

Published 3:59 pm Wednesday, January 7, 2026

Multiple projects throughout the town of Marion are moving forward with progress being steadily made, the Board of Aldermen was told Tuesday.

The town is currently in the process of digging a new water well, readying for construction of a new water treatment facility and getting contracts in place for building to begin on a new Town Hall.

Town Engineer Shaun Miles told aldermen the well project is making progress although changes at the site may not be immediately visible. He said he approved the contractor’s measurements for well casing Monday, and the next step will be to get that casing made.

Getting the well casing, which lines the inside of the hole, will take three to four weeks, Miles said.

“Probably three or four weeks before we have anything else happen out there,” he said. “That’s where we’re at.”

Drilling the well, which comes at a cost of $785,540, is part of a larger project to build a new freshwater plant in the Pleasant Acres subdivision that will provide clean, safe drinking water to Marion residents. The well, along with construction of a $1.9 million treatment plant, is being funded by a $3.4 million grant from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which the town was awarded in 2022.

Mayor Larry Gill said he is watching for invoices from the well drilling to begin arriving as he doesn’t want to be caught off guard by the expense. The Corps grant, which will cover up to 75% of the cost, is a reimbursable grant, he said, meaning the town will have to have the money up front.

“I just want to make sure we’re ready because there’s going to be a float in there until we get the 75% back,” he said.

On other projects, Town Attorney Dustin Markham said he is reviewing contracts for construction of the water treatment plant, which was awarded to Hemphill Construction. On the Town Hall project, he said he plans to follow up with the state Attorney General’s office to find out the status of an interlocal agreement between Marion and Lauderdale County for dirt work at the construction site.