Fact Check: Where District 5 county commission candidates stand on data centers
Candidates for Sedgwick County Commission District 5, Olivia Hayse and Jim Howell, outlined how the county should manage proposed data center development. Both supported local oversight and protections for water, nearby residents, infrastructure and energy costs, though the article does not describe a specific project or government action.
Libertarian candidate Olivia Hayse and Republican incumbent Jim Howell, who are competing for Sedgwick County Commission District 5, discussed their positions on data centers seeking to locate in the county. Hayse said property owners should be free to accept or reject development while the county establishes fair safeguards for environmental resources and neighboring properties.
Howell said data center decisions should remain under local control and should not be driven primarily by tax revenue. He called for efficient cooling and limits on water use, noise controls, setbacks from homes, and requirements that developers pay the full cost of associated energy and infrastructure rather than shifting those costs to other ratepayers.