trail that will extend up and down the Mississippi River Delta, telling the story of the 1865 explosion and sinking of the Sultana steamboat, a tragedy that claimed between 1,500 and 1,800 lives.“The Sultana is classified as the greatest maritime disaster in US history, and it’s an incredible story,” portrays Mayor Brick. “We’ve had a small museum in town for 10 years, and this one should be opened in April of 2026.” BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE As the city moves ahead with residential and commercial growth, efforts are underway to ensure the infrastructure is also in place. On the utility side, Entergy serves the community’s energy needs, while two major fiber companies provide access to high speed internet.“We have some aging infrastructure, and so we are slowly working on replacing those,” acknowledges the mayor. “I’ve been in office since January 2023, and I have spent approximately $800,000 on waterline replacement so far.The voters in Marion just passed a sales and use tax bond issue, and $15 million out of that bond will be dedicated to water and sewer projects.” Plans include a new water tank to improve pressure in a growing area, upgrades to an existing well to increase capacity, and the installation of a new sewer lagoon on 40 acres of recently acquired land. 251 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 09 MARION, AR
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