Growth projects highlight city council action

A Sunshine Center expansion and the potential addition of an industrial park highlighted Monday night's Spencer City Council meeting.

The council is working with the Northwest Iowa Planning and Development Commission and approved a resolution to apply for a $350,000 Community Block and Development Grant on behalf of Sunshine Services.

The money would help offset a $700,000 expansion effort by the agency for a new sheltered workshop facility.

"The current workspace and facilities utilized for the growing work programs offered by Sunshine Services is no longer capable of meeting the needs of the organization or the clientele they serve," said Steve Hallgren of the Northwest Iowa Planning and Development Commission. "The size of the existing facility restricts growth and therefore is limiting to the number of individuals and services they will be able to provide."

The project site for the new workshop will be located in an existing 15,000-square-foot, steel building located in the East Milwaukee Street industrial area. Sunshine Services has been renting the area to accommodate growth.

"We're going to be the mechanism for which the grant goes through," Spencer City Manager Bob Fagen said.

In other action, Spencer City Council members also began the process of annexing land for the Green Industrial Park. The city and Spencer Municipal Utilities jointly purchased about 200 acres of land between the east beltway and the city's wastewater treatment plant. A portion of the tract fell outside city limits and required council support. The city will annex the land and establish it as a urban renewal district.

Fagen sees potential in the property.

"It will hold some pretty substantial-sized industrial uses," he said.

The city also held a pair of bond sales including a $1.35 million General Obligation Landfill Facility Improvement Bond. Another bond sale will be used for the cost associated with the 2008 East 11th Street paving and sewer project.

"The rates came in better than what we anticipated," Fagen said. "The market rates have dropped. In addition, the city had its A1 bond rating affirmed last week, which helped in the process."

City Council members also supported Mayor Reynold Peterson's appointment of Les Hicks to fill a vacancy on the Spencer Airport Board of Trustees. The appointment will fill an opening created by the resignation of board member Harry Rasdal. The newest board member's term is set to expire on June 30, 2011.