Pottawatomie Co. plans ahead for data center demands
Pottawatomie County's Planning Commissioners held a public meeting to discuss a proposed data center overlay district. Residents voiced concerns, primarily about environmental effects, with some calling for a moratorium on data center development. The commission is still gathering public input before making any official recommendations.
Pottawatomie County's Planning Commissioners convened an open mic meeting at St. Bernard Catholic Church in Wamego to gather public input on a proposed data center special purpose overlay district. The meeting saw significant resident participation, with many voicing strong concerns.
A primary issue raised by residents was the potential environmental effects of data centers. One speaker notably compared data centers to asbestos, highlighting how a once-accepted construction agent is now known to be cancerous, implying potential long-term negative consequences for the area's environment and the livelihoods dependent on it. While the news team did not hear any comments explicitly supporting data centers, one gentleman interviewed before the meeting acknowledged potential economic and tax benefits, stating that data centers could be "done right" to positively impact the county's tax budget.
A common demand from the public was the immediate passage of a moratorium on data center development. The Planning Commission clarified that there are currently no official data center applications in Pottawatomie County. They committed to hosting additional public comment meetings to ensure all residents have an opportunity to speak on the topic before they formulate a recommendation vote for the county board.