Hobart board hires firm to oversee construction at data center sites
Hobart officials have hired Skillman Corp. to oversee the construction and day-to-day operations of two Amazon data center sites at 61st Avenue and Colorado Street. This agreement, budgeted at $3.9 million through 2030, follows the unanimous approval of the site plans by the Hobart Plan Commission in May. The approval process included a lengthy public meeting with significant security and one arrest.
Hobart officials, spearheaded by the Board of Public Works and Safety, have engaged Skillman Corp. of Merrillville to manage the construction and daily activities of two Amazon Web Services data center sites in Hobart, Indiana. The agreement tasks TSC Facility Services, a division of Skillman Corp., with comprehensive oversight at the 61st Avenue and Colorado Street locations. This includes handling deliveries, traffic, communications, and resident complaints, a role Mayor Josh Huddlestun likened to a "City Hall 2.0 on site" to support the city's Building Commission.
Building Commission Felix Perry emphasized the value of a full-time, on-site inspector to streamline operations and reduce the burden on city services. The contract details a staffing schedule from Monday to Saturday, with provisions for extended hours and a total financial allocation of $3.9 million through 2030, accounting for inflation. The agreement also encourages the assignment of Hobart residents to these positions.
This administrative action follows the Hobart Plan Commission's unanimous approval on May 7 for both data center site plans. The first, to be known as the Hobart Data Center Campus, will feature six data centers and two ancillary buildings on 168 acres. The second, the Hobart Tech Park, also received an 8-0 vote of approval.
However, the nearly five-hour Plan Commission meeting, held in Hobart’s City Court, was marked by tight security and a police presence, leading to one arrest, indicating public interest or contention surrounding the projects despite their ultimate approval.