Topeka mayor shares data center update, details on upcoming sales tax vote
Topeka Mayor Spencer Duncan said proposed data centers are primarily a county matter, but any project requiring city water would be subject to the city’s moratorium and require City Council approval. He also said data center decisions within the city have been moved from administrative staff to the council and will be handled publicly.
Topeka Mayor Spencer Duncan discussed the city’s handling of proposed data centers during an interview that also covered the departure of City Manager Robert Perez and an upcoming sales tax vote. Duncan said the data center proposals currently before officials are a county matter, with the county expected to make the final decision on the projects.
Duncan said Topeka has a moratorium affecting data centers that would need city water. He added that any related decision must go before the Topeka City Council, and that authority over data center matters has been removed from administrative officials so discussions and decisions will occur publicly.