New council members sworn in; data center project still divides Festus council

The Festus City Council saw four new members sworn in, all of whom campaigned against a proposed data center development by CRG. This shift has intensified the division within the council, with newly elected members like Rick Belleville and Dan Moore expressing intent to rescind the agreement with CRG, while existing members and Mayor Sam Richards continue to support the project. CRG, a St. Louis-based data center development arm for Clayco, announced plans in late 2025 for a $6 billion hyperscale data center on 361 acres in Festus. Despite a 6-2 council approval of an infrastructure development agreement, public opposition remains strong, with 10 out of 12 citizens speaking against the project at a recent council meeting, and some even threatening recall petitions against supporting officeholders. Further escalating the conflict, Wake Up Jeffco LLC and several property owners (Sherman Doyle, Vernon Valish, Sharon Valish, and Rozilyn Daniels) filed a lawsuit on April 8 in St. Louis County Circuit Court against the City of Festus and CRG Acquisition LLC. Attorney Steve Jeffery represents the plaintiffs, whose primary goals include invalidating the council's November 2025 vote to rezone seven parcels to I-1 industrial, restoring their prior residential or non-urban zoning, and invalidating the recent infrastructure development agreement. The lawsuit alleges several violations, including unlawful spot zoning, violations of state statutes and municipal codes regarding public meetings, failure to provide proper public notice for meetings, unconstitutional approval of the development agreement, collusion, and civil conspiracy. Both the City of Festus, represented by attorney Brian Malone of Lashly and Baer, and CRG, represented by attorney John S. Kingston, maintain that all legal requirements were met and that the lawsuit is without merit. The case has been assigned to Judge Ellen W. Dunne, with no hearings scheduled yet.