Crossville City Council enacts temporary data center moratorium, reverses water rate increase
The Crossville City Council enacted a temporary moratorium on new data centers and reversed a recent 25% wholesale water rate increase. The new data center ordinance also directs planning for permanent standards on noise, water use, and infrastructure cost allocation.
The Crossville City Council, led by Mayor R.J. Crawford, took significant actions during its Aug. 11 meeting. The council unanimously approved a temporary moratorium on new data centers. This new ordinance defines data center facilities, exempts existing operations, and mandates planning for future permanent standards covering noise, water usage, and infrastructure cost allocation, ensuring developers, rather than local ratepayers, bear these expenses.
The council also addressed a controversial 25% automatic increase in wholesale water rates, voting to restore the rate for outside utilities to its previous level of $4.57 per thousand gallons. This decision came after Mayor Crawford took responsibility for not anticipating the automatic contractual trigger. However, the 25% increase for in-city customers, raising their rate to $7.85 per thousand gallons, remains intact to comply with state fund-balance guidelines. The City Attorney also provided updates on surveillance camera systems, clarifying their use and legal standing within Tennessee municipalities.