Area residents seek more details on data center proposal

A proposed small to mid-sized data center in Maquoketa, Iowa, specifically eyed for the city’s 46-acre Highway 61 Industrial Park, is facing considerable public pushback. At a Maquoketa City Council meeting on July 20, approximately a dozen residents attended, following a much larger turnout of over 100 people at a previous meeting on July 6, where City Manager Josh Boldt presented the proposal.

Concerns articulated by residents centered on potential environmental impacts. Elias Langlois, who recently moved to Maquoketa, expressed strong opposition, citing worries about noise and air pollution, excessive water and electricity consumption, and unknown long-term health effects on people, animals, and the environment. Langlois, however, did not provide verifiable evidence for his claims when requested by the council.

During the public comment portion of the meeting, Langlois formally demanded that the city council implement a one-year moratorium on data center development to allow for more research into residents' concerns. He also called for the removal of City Manager Boldt, referencing an earlier article where Boldt indicated his best work for the city might be behind him. Another resident, Chris Jacobs, inquired about potential non-disclosure agreements between city officials and data center representatives, prompted by similar situations in other parts of the country.

The city council, adhering to its policy, did not respond directly to the public comments or demands made during the session. The ongoing public opposition included a protest held on July 18 at Glovik Community Park.