Festus residents file lawsuit against city, data center developer

Residents of Festus, Missouri, and the advocacy group Wake Up Jeffco have initiated legal action against the city and developer CRG concerning a proposed $6 billion data center. The plaintiffs, including property owners Sherman Doyle, Vernon and Sharon Valish, and Rozilyn Daniels, filed a 12-count, 54-page lawsuit on Wednesday, alleging that city officials engaged in secret discussions and meetings with CRG regarding the project without public knowledge since last August. Among the allegations, the lawsuit claims city officials discussed misleading the public about the development. Mayor Sam Richards, however, stated to Spectrum News earlier in the week that the data center project has been transparent. The lawsuit further contends that the Festus City Council approved the annexation and rezoning of hundreds of acres north of Highway 67 in November to facilitate the project. Additionally, the lawsuit highlights that property owners in a voluntary buyout program are restricted to using developer-approved appraisers. The city council recently passed an ordinance for the data center's development, limiting public comment at the meeting to two hours. The plaintiffs' legal action seeks to invalidate the data center's authorization. Over 300 complaints have reportedly been lodged with the city, citing concerns about property values, health, and environmental impacts. Concurrently, a petition is underway to recall the current mayor and several city council members amidst the controversy.