Maquoketa community divided over proposed data center
A proposed 46-acre data center in Maquoketa, Iowa, is causing division among residents. While City Manager Josh Boldt highlights the potential for significant budget boosts, many residents fear it would compromise the town's natural beauty. The project is currently in a pending stage, with land transfer and specific requirements yet to be finalized.
A proposed 46-acre data center project in Maquoketa, Iowa, is facing a divided community. Residents filled the city council chambers to learn more about the development, which is slated for an industrial property just south of town near Walmart and Highway 61.
City Manager Josh Boldt highlighted the potential financial benefits, stating the data center could boost city budgets by hundreds of thousands of dollars annually, a welcome prospect amidst inflation. However, many residents are concerned the project would mar the town's natural beauty, expressing that a data center does not align with Maquoketa's positive attributes.
Boldt clarified that the land has not yet been transferred to the developer. He assured that potential "nuisance issues," including utility usage and construction requirements, would be thoroughly addressed before any real estate transactions are finalized.