Liberty officials answer questions from residents about data center coming to city

Residents in Liberty, Missouri are voicing strong opposition to a proposed data center project by Metro Blocks, raising questions about its necessity and potential impact on local infrastructure. KSHB41 Northland reporter Fernanda Silva covered a meeting where Liberty city leaders approved $1.4 billion in bonds and millions in tax incentives for the project. Linda Weber, a local resident, initiated a petition against the data center, expressing concerns about its potential strain on the electrical grid and water resources. These sentiments are widely shared on social media. In response, Liberty's Mayor addressed some of these concerns, highlighting the financial benefits the data center would bring to Clay County, projecting $49 million in taxes compared to $34,000 without the development. The mayor also assured that the project would not lead to an increase in water or electric rates for residents. Despite the ongoing resident opposition and the petition, the city council has already made its decision to approve the project, making it legally difficult to reverse the agreement at this stage. However, residents like Linda Weber remain hopeful for a change.