Town of Turtle board rejects data center cost reimbursement agreement, starts moratorium process

The Town of Turtle board in Wisconsin has unanimously rejected a revised cost-reimbursement agreement tied to a potential data center project proposed by Panattoni. All five board members voted against Panattoni's updated version of the agreement at a special meeting.

Chairman Roger Anclam stated that the new language in the agreement, which included a termination clause, a different funding company, and changes to how town employee costs were handled, was believed to favor the developer. He emphasized that turning down the agreement was in the best interest of the town's residents. This decision means that town funds will now cover the cost for professional studies related to the development site, a responsibility some residents expressed willingness to bear for unbiased data.

Following the rejection, the board also unanimously approved a resolution to begin the process for a 12-month moratorium on data center development. This action was met with applause from more than 100 people attending the meeting. The town must now publish a 30-day notice and hold a public hearing before the final moratorium ordinance can be passed. Anclam indicated that this is not the end of the issue, and the town plans to immediately begin reviewing its development rules to ensure due diligence.