Topeka mayor says city employees held unauthorized meeting over proposed data center
Topeka Mayor Spencer Duncan said two city employees held an unauthorized meeting with a legal representative and Rural Water District 3 board members about water service for a proposed Compass data center project. Duncan said the meeting created no city authorization or commitment, and future discussions must go through the mayor, city manager, legal counsel and City Council.
Topeka Mayor Spencer Duncan disclosed that two city employees met without authorization with a legal representative and members of Rural Water District 3 to discuss water service for a proposed Compass data center project. The employees did not notify the city manager's office, mayor's office, City Council or city legal counsel before attending the meeting.
Duncan said the discussion did not represent an approved city position, authorize the project or create any commitment, and that the interim city manager would address the matter with the employees. He said future data center-related requests must proceed through the public process and receive governing-body approval. The projects under discussion are outside Topeka city limits, where Shawnee County has zoning and land-use authority.