The possibility of approving a five-figure payment to the Marshall-Saline Development Corporation sparked a bit of a discussion during the Marshall City Council meeting on Monday, December 21.

Ward 2 Councilman Kirk Arends said the council agreed to lower its annual payment last year, and it is being asked to approve the same $15,000 amount this year.

Arends- who represents the city at MSDC meetings- was asked: “Besides the junction, have there really been any other Marshall-centered projects on their radar?”

Ward 1 Councilman Leon Thompson said he would like to see more of a plan for Marshall out of MSDC.

The council voted 6 to 2 to approve the first reading of the ordinance. However, it will need to be approved again during a future meeting before it goes into effect.

In other news, Ward 3 Councilman Dan Brandt reported the city’s curbside yard-waste pickup has ended for the year. However, he says the compost area will remain open from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and from 7 a.m. until noon on Saturdays throughout the winter months.