County approves MOU to explore land swap with Waterloo for roads facility relocation

The Black Hawk County Board of Supervisors voted to approve a memorandum of understanding with the City of Waterloo to explore a property exchange that could support relocation of the county roads (Longfellow) facility. County Engineer Kathy Nicholas told the board the Longfellow site includes buildings dating to 1959 that are becoming difficult to maintain, and the county has local sales‑tax funding available to pay for capital infrastructure over time. The MOU will let the city and county evaluate proposed parcels and proceed toward a development agreement if both sides agree.

Noah Anderson, Waterloos community planning and development director, described available parcels near the Waterloo Air & Rail Park, including a graded 10–15 acre parcel with utilities in place and other sites that would require additional grading. Anderson said the swap could free the Longfellow site for residential infill on the city's north side and provide the county a larger, better‑equipped site. The county indicated it will issue an RFP for architectural services for a new facility in the coming weeks and staff will return with a finalized development agreement as site selection progresses.