Spencer, IA (Northwest Iowa Now) — The Spencer City Council and Clay County Board of Supervisors met in a joint workshop session Monday night, and seemed to agree on a new, joint public works location.

The city suggested 20 acres in the Green Industrial Park on the East side of Spencer that is shovel ready with roads, water, and sewer already running to the property.

Supervisor Allen Batschelet said the issue has been studied for at least a decade, and if there was a better option it would have shown up by now.

Representatives of both entities pointed out that it would be a joint location, but not a joint building. Supervisors said their current public works building floods frequently, and should not be rebuilt where it is; so they might be on a different schedule than the city. Spencer councilman Brian Balk said while it sounds like a great idea, in his mind the flood has pushed back Spencer’s timeline by at least a year.

Both the city and county agreed to take legal steps to make a formal agreement possible, and they plan to visit public works facilities in the region to get some ideas.