(Radio Iowa) – An engineering study indicates between four and five MILLION dollars in repairs are needed for Spencer’s waste water treatment plant, which was damaged by catastrophic flooding in June. Kevin Robinson, Spencer’s Acting City Manager, says city officials are reviewing the study. “We’ll be meeting with Public Works, discussing the pros and cons of moving forward either replacing the stuff that was damaged in our normal project deadline and/or…is there a better path forward,” Robinson says. “The technology that we use is old.” Robinson says some FEMA disaster money could be used to improve the plant.

Spencer officials are also considering a plan that would use city and federal funds on a project to tear down seven apartment buildings in Spencer that were swamped by flooding in June. The city would spend 300-thousand dollars to acquire the property. Spencer’s Acting City Manager says the city would then apply to use federal funds to demolish the apartments. “Those properties sit development ready until our Community Development Block Grant Disaster Relief funding comes in, which will be 18-24 months,” he says. Robinson says Spencer officials have discussed the plan with two state agencies that are involved in housing development projects.

“They believe that we could get flood-compliant apartment complexes back in those areas,” Robinson says. Eighty percent of the structures in Spencer were either damaged or destroyed in June by flooding or backed up sewer water. Spencer sits at the convergence of the Little Sioux and Ocheyedan Rivers.