Harmony Holds Joint Planning Session

The City of Harmony, Minnesota, recently convened a joint planning session at the Harmony Community Center on April 1, bringing together members of the Harmony City Council, Harmony Economic Development Authority (EDA), and the Planning and Zoning Commission, along with community residents. The meeting, facilitated by Katrina Hurley, focused on gathering community input to draft a new data center ordinance in preparation for a proposed data center project. Hurley emphasized that the session was solely for planning, not decision-making, aiming to define what the community would like to see if the project moves forward. Participants engaged in roundtable discussions covering six core topics, including community relationship and trust, local investment, quality of life, communication, complaint response, and long-term commitment. Key issues raised included the importance of childcare, infrastructure demands on city services (roads, utilities, emergency response), educational support, and concerns about rising electric rates, with Council member Jesse Grabau confirming MiEnergy would handle electricity for any data center. Environmental considerations were also discussed, with Hurley noting that no data center in the U.S. has completed an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and confirming the proposed Harmony data center would not use water for cooling. The meeting highlighted the community's desire to "Keep Harmony affordable" and ensure transparency and accountability in any future partnership. The next joint planning meeting is set for April 15, ahead of a vote by the Planning and Zoning Commission.