COMPREHENSIVE DEVELOPMENT PLAN PLANNING TOWARDS 2028 Prepared For MARATHON, IOWA BUENA VISTA COUNTY Prepared By MARATHON, IOWA ▪ COMPREHENSIVE DEVELOPMENT PLAN ▪ 2008 i PLAN PARTICIPANTS MARATHON, IOWA Comprehensive Development Plan 2008 Project Participants City Council DANA SNOW, MAYOR STARR ABBAS DONNIE SKOU ALAN KINNETZ TONY RYDSTROM KATHY SCHULZ CITY PERSONNEL CINDY RICHARDSON CLERK FREDERICA KRUSE CITY TREASURER DAN WINKLER COUNTY SHERIFF JERRY APPAS FIRE CHIEF TERRY GUNNARSON WATER SUPERINTENDENT BUENA VISTA COUNTY PERSONNEL KIM JOHNSON ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND ZONING DIRECTOR PLANNING CONSULTANT MARATHON, IOWA ▪ COMPREHENSIVE DEVELOPMENT PLAN ▪ 2008 i PLAN PARTICIPANTS TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION..................................................................................................................................................3 INTRODUCTION.........................................................................................................................................................4 Location ..........................................................................................................................................................4 History of Marathon .......................................................................................................................................4 THE COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING PROCESS ..................................................................................................................6 COMPREHENSIVE DEVELOPMENT PLAN COMPONENTS.....................................................................................................7 GOVERNMENTAL AND JURISDICTIONAL ORGANIZATION...................................................................................................9 PROFILE MARATHON.....................................................................................................................................10 DEMOGRAPHIC PROFILE...........................................................................................................................................11 Population Trends and Analysis....................................................................................................................11 Age Structure Analysis..................................................................................................................................12 Population Projections..................................................................................................................................14 HOUSING PROFILE..................................................................................................................................................17 Age of Existing Housing Stock......................................................................................................................17 ECONOMIC AND EMPLOYMENT PROFILE.....................................................................................................................22 Income Statistics............................................................................................................................................22 Regional Basic/Non-Basic Analysis..............................................................................................................25 COMMUNITY FACILITIES..........................................................................................................................................29 Marathon Facilities Inventory.......................................................................................................................29 RECREATIONAL FACILITIES.......................................................................................................................................30 State Recreational Facilities.........................................................................................................................30 County Recreational Facilities......................................................................................................................30 Community Recreational Facilities...............................................................................................................31 Other Recreational Activities........................................................................................................................31 EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES ........................................................................................................................................31 FIRE AND RESCUE..................................................................................................................................................34 LAW ENFORCEMENT...............................................................................................................................................37 CITY BUILDINGS....................................................................................................................................................37 COMMUNICATION FACILITIES....................................................................................................................................37 Radio..............................................................................................................................................................37 Television.......................................................................................................................................................38 Newspapers....................................................................................................................................................38 PUBLIC UTILITIES...................................................................................................................................................38 Electrical Service...........................................................................................................................................38 Natural Gas...................................................................................................................................................38 Telephone Services........................................................................................................................................38 Cable Television Providers...........................................................................................................................38 Sanitary Sewer...............................................................................................................................................39 Municipal Water............................................................................................................................................39 MARATHON, IOWA ▪ COMPREHENSIVE DEVELOPMENT PLAN ▪ 2008 ii PLAN PARTICIPANTS Solid Waste Disposal Facilities.....................................................................................................................39 HEALTH FACILITIES................................................................................................................................................39 Hospital.........................................................................................................................................................39 Medical Clinics..............................................................................................................................................40 Nursing Home Facilities................................................................................................................................40 EXISTING LAND USE ............................................................................................................................................41 TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM AND FACILITIES................................................................................................................46 ...............................................................................................................................................................................47 ENVISION MARATHON...................................................................................................................................48 ENVISION THE FUTURE............................................................................................................................................49 MARATHON’S TOWN HALL MEETING.......................................................................................................................49 MARATHON’S TOWN HALL MEETING RESULTS..........................................................................................................50 MARATHON’S VISION.............................................................................................................................................51 VISION STATEMENT................................................................................................................................................51 MARATHON’S GOALS.............................................................................................................................................52 Economic Development.................................................................................................................................52 Land Use........................................................................................................................................................53 Housing..........................................................................................................................................................53