Tensions ran high as Harmony city leaders were met with a flood of public feedback over a proposed data center that could be coming to the Fillmore County community.
In a packed meeting Wednesday, city officials reviewed more than 40 written submissions spanning over 80 pages of public concerns and questions from local residents over a two-week comment period.
The proposed facility has sparked community concern on multiple fronts. Among the worries is the site’s proposed water usage, which is projected to reach up to 60,000 gallons a month. Residents also voiced concerns over potential noise pollution and the threat of unchecked future expansions.
Under the city’s current drafts, developers would be blocked from expanding the site in the future without explicit city approval. Council members are also considering requiring developers to build sound barriers, or berms, to block runaway noise from neighboring residential areas.
They will meet again soon to talk more about it…
City leaders are sending the amendments back to the city attorney to fine-tune the restrictions and rewrite the draft. The attorney has a three-week window to return the revised language to city leaders.
The council is scheduled to review the next draft on September 16.