City recloses facilities to the public

During Monday night’s Spencer City Council meeting, it was announced the city would be reverting their facility policy to close city buildings — with the exception being the transfer station — to the public effective Nov. 17 through Dec. 31 or until a new decision would be made. Additionally all city council, committee, and staff meetings will be held electronically during this period. City officials said like many other entities, city departments had been impacted by COVID but stressed services will continue unchanged.

“We want to ensure No. 1, that we protect our staff to ensure our essential services we provide the public and to protect the public,” Spencer Mayor Kevin Robinson said.

Council members briefly discussed the status of the Spencer Public Library, which is governed by its board of trustees, and Clay County’s facilities.

“The library currently is closed to the public, they’re doing curbside so any changes through that would come through the library board,” Spencer City Manager Amanda Mack said.

“At this time the county has not closed their facilities but they’re meeting tomorrow,” Robinson said. “Superintendent (Terry) Hemann will be there and (Spencer Hospital President Bill) Bumgarner will be there talking about the things the hospital and the schools have done to keep the transmission rates lower than the public and talk about their facilities as well.”