Hermantown cancels Tuesday's data center meeting
Hermantown canceled a City Council meeting on permits for Google's proposed 1.66-million-square-foot data center after opponents disrupted the prior meeting. The meeting was rescheduled for Friday, while opponents continue to challenge the project and the city's permitting process in court.
The Hermantown City Council canceled a meeting scheduled to consider key permits and agreements for Google's proposed 1.66-million-square-foot data center near Midway and Morris Thomas roads. The meeting was rescheduled for Friday, with attendance capped at 85 people and public comment available only to in-person attendees.
The cancellation followed a protest at Monday's meeting, when opponents objected to the removal of the public-comment sign-up sheet and chanted inside and outside the council chambers. Police Chief Jim Crace declared the gathering an unlawful assembly. The council's proposed actions include a special-use permit, property replatting, an environmental assessment petition decision, and agreements with Google and St. Louis County. The Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy and Stop the Hermantown Data Center have sued over alleged notice violations; Judge Theresa Neo declined to immediately issue a temporary restraining order and scheduled further arguments for Dec. 8.