Judge Rules Ottawa Data Center Ban Goes to Vote
A Franklin County judge ruled that a citizen-led petition to ban data centers using over 25 megawatts in Ottawa, Kansas, will appear on the November ballot. Residents consider this a win, despite an ongoing legal question about the ordinance's conformity to Kansas law. The city had initially chosen not to approve the ordinance or send it to voters.
A Franklin County judge has ruled that Ottawa, Kansas, voters will have the opportunity to decide on a proposed ban against data centers using more than 25 megawatts of power. The decision, made on Thursday, means a citizen-led petition, spearheaded by residents like Michael Lewis and Kim Conrad, will be included on the November ballot.
The lawsuit was filed by Ottawa residents Michael Lewis and Kim Conrad, who alleged the city ignored their verified petition. City commissioners had previously opted against approving the ordinance or submitting it to voters, despite calls from the community to "do their job." The city is reportedly considering a data center development on a 300-acre parcel.
Jessica Christopher, who authored the proposed ordinance and gathered signatures, expressed joy at the ruling, calling it a "win." However, as a county resident, Christopher and others outside the city limits will not be able to vote on the measure, despite believing a data center in the rural area would significantly impact them. The city manager declined to comment due to the ongoing legal matter.
Although the ballot question is approved, the judge still needs to determine if the proposed ordinance aligns with Kansas law, a decision that will come after the election. The judge's immediate ruling ensured the question made the ballot ahead of Friday's deadline, avoiding a costly special election.