It hasn’t been a big secret that the work on expanding East Merle Hibbs to the east of the Wal-Mart was being done in part to make way for a potential new medical clinic.

Representatives from McFarland Clinic confirmed that to the public last night during a discussion of a new facility with the Marshalltown City Council. The Clinic is looking at nine acres of land for a three-level, roughly 66 thousand square foot center which would combine the downtown and southside clinic locations. McFarland’s Marshalltown Executive Director Deb Wollam says the new facility is being planned to have the ability to look ahead, beyond a potential summer 2022 completion.

For its part, the City Council will look to amend its Urban Renewal Plan to provide some tax abatements for the project.