The city of Marion took steps Monday to move forward on two long-term projects.

First, the city approved a bid to officially begin its downtown revitalization project, five years after the process began.

Then, the city accepted two grants from the Kansas Department of Transporta­tion for upgrades to the city’s airport. This process began three years ago.

Each were unanimously approved with minimal discussion.

“While there was not much fanfare here tonight, these are major, long-term decisions for the city,” Marion Mayor Todd Heit­schmidt said.

“Long term, I feel very good about these decisions.”

(Read more: Hillsboro Free Press)