County Commissioners approve temporary moratorium on data centers to draft new ordinance

The Pennington County Board of Commissioners meeting on April 15, 2025, focused on several key issues, including the approval of a healthcare agreement and discussions surrounding budgetary practices and zoning regulations for data centers.

One of the primary actions taken during the meeting was the approval of an agreement with Genoa Healthcare LLC. The motion to approve the agreement was made by Commissioner Durr and seconded by Commissioner Atcuk, receiving unanimous support from the board.

The commissioners also reviewed a list of vouchers totaling over $5 million, which included payments for various projects and services. Commissioner Dird raised concerns about the county's reliance on outsourcing for services that could potentially be managed internally. He highlighted specific invoices, such as a $12,000 payment for processing mandatory employee notifications, suggesting that these tasks could be handled more efficiently with the new software system, Encode 10, that the county plans to implement. Dird emphasized the importance of examining these expenditures closely during the upcoming budget discussions to identify potential savings.

Additionally, the board discussed a payment of $55,000 to the Central States Fair, which has historically been processed through individual invoices. Dird proposed a more streamlined approach, suggesting that the fair's budget could be allocated in larger, scheduled payments rather than through a cumbersome invoicing process.

In another significant discussion, Planning Director Brittney Molitor requested a six-month moratorium on data center developments to allow for the establishment of a comprehensive ordinance. This pause aims to ensure that the county can effectively manage the implications of such developments, particularly regarding utility requirements. The board agreed to consider rewording the moratorium to clarify that it would last no longer than six months, allowing for quicker action if the ordinance is finalized sooner.

Overall, the meeting underscored the board's commitment to improving internal processes, managing budgets more effectively, and ensuring thoughtful planning for future developments in Pennington County. The next steps include further discussions on budgetary practices and the development of the data center ordinance.