Salix City Council to Vote on Data Center Moratorium After Rescheduling Due to Threats
Salix, Iowa city officials have rescheduled a city council meeting to vote on a possible data center moratorium after the original meeting was postponed due to death threats. Residents are divided over Google's potential data center, with some citing economic benefits and others concerned about local lifestyle. The council previously voted 3-2 in favor of the concept for a one-year pause, requiring one more vote to enact it.
Salix, Iowa's city council has rescheduled a crucial meeting for Thursday evening to consider a possible one-year moratorium on data centers. The initial meeting, planned for August 12, was postponed due to "death threats and terroristic threats" reported to the Woodbury County Sheriff's Office, according to Mayor Kevin Nelson.
The potential establishment of a data center has sparked significant controversy among the town's 300 residents. At a July meeting, over 100 attendees expressed divided opinions, with some residents concerned about the impact on their way of life, while others highlighted the economic advantages and job creation a data center could bring. The council previously approved the concept of a moratorium with a 3-2 vote, needing one more vote to formally implement it.
Technology giant Google, which operates numerous data centers across the U.S. including Iowa, announced last week it is in the early stages of evaluating a site in Salix for a new data center.