Porter County residents press commissioners over proposed data center near Wheeler schools; board says it must follow process

At a regularly scheduled April 2025 meeting, dozens of residents of Union Township urged the Porter County Board of Commissioners to delay consideration of a proposed hyperscale data center near Wheeler and several Union Township schools, warning of noise, water use, health and property-value consequences.

The testimony came during an extended public-comment period. Jonathan, identifying himself with the Union Township School Corporation, told the commissioners the project could “have significant impact on Union Township Schools” and urged caution. Angela, who said she is a lifelong Union Township resident and a licensed realtor, asked the board to “please do not proceed without the people of this county because we are watching.”

Residents described similar concerns: potential 24/7 noise and low-frequency vibration, heavy local traffic during construction, unknown groundwater and water-consumption impacts, and changes to residential character and home values. Marissa Barnes said she collected 1,500 petition signatures gathered in one day opposing the project; she said 71% of signers were local ZIP codes. Others asked for an independent environmental and fiscal impact study, a community oversight board representing Union Township, and full public disclosure of any campaign or developer contributions.

“I'm not against progress,” David Volba said. “I believe the promised economic benefit will not override the negative impact on the quality of life for Union Township residents.” Phil Norman, whose wife has worked in data centers, said his wife reported they are “very, very loud” and described health concerns tied to noise and vibration. Fifteen-year-old Allison Ruiz said she lives with chronic Crohn’s disease and warned about long-term health and environmental impacts.

Commissioners emphasized they must follow the statutory process for any rezoning or permit requests. Commissioner Jim Biggs told the room that he would not “step out and deny or approve this without the process taking place,” adding, “That’s what you pay us to do.” He and other commissioners repeatedly said the county must allow formal applications and public hearings before reaching a decision.

Several speakers criticized related local planning practices and asked for a temporary pause on new related applications while more study and community outreach occur. Wendy Bridal and others urged the county to adopt local rules restricting hyperscale data centers near schools, homes and farms. Other speakers suggested alternative, industrial locations nearer existing utility infrastructure.

Why it matters: residents and school officials say the proposed site’s proximity to schools and homes raises potential long-term public-health, noise and groundwater questions. Commissioners said the legal review process — including public hearings before the planning commission and any rezoning requests — remains the correct path to balance those community concerns with proposed economic benefits.

Votes at a glance

At the same meeting the board approved a range of routine and project-specific items. Key formal actions recorded in the transcript include:

- Consent agenda: approved (payroll and claims, minutes). Outcome: approved by voice vote. - Appointment: Debbie Gunn appointed to newly created Ambulance Services Committee. Outcome: approved. - Ordinance (second reading): establishment of a nonreverting fund (insurance proceeds to restore buildings). Outcome: approved on second reading. - Ordinance (first reading): establishment of nonreverting fund 9128 for Marine Patrol Assistance (DNR grant to sheriff for Lake Michigan patrol overtime). Outcome: approved on first reading; second reading scheduled at a later meeting. - Pay application: Corollis/Corallis Roofing Pay App No. 7, $187,894.75 — approved. - Highway/pay applications and construction payables: multiple contractor pay applications and PAFs for Garriott Construction ($320,900.50), Bloomfield Mechanical ($9,489.07), Circle A Mechanical ($22,939.65), Circle A Electric ($28,203.65) — all approved as presented. - Construction change orders: Health Department/Bergen (closet light) Change Order No. 8, $999.90 — approved; Bergland/Bergman conference room lighting Change Order No. 9, $6,071.62 — approved; Construction Change Order No. 11 for Bergland (amount in transcript $5,299.47) — approved. - Pay App: Burgwin Construction Pay App No. 8, $142,511.93 — approved. - Purchase: two Toshiba e-Studio 9029 A copiers, total $27,530.20 (Adams Remco) — approved. - VideoTek contract: replacement access control panel at 150–157 Franklin, $8,556 — approved pending insurance company final approval. - Facilities/maintenance: window restoration at Admin Building, $7,495; exterior brick and EIFS cleaning at Juvenile Detention Center, $9,366; septic mound repair at Hebron Highway Department (Steuer Septic Systems), $13,500; painting lower-level hallways (Real Deal LLC), $6,600 — all approved. - Bids and contracting: Auditor reported six bids for paving (Asphalt Materials Inc.; Bitmap Products Inc.; Reith Riley Construction; Milestone Contractors LP; Central Paving; Pavement Solutions). The board accepted the bids and will select lowest responsive bidder by location; they also approved advertising the annual CCMG paving contract for bid opening at the April meeting. - Reimbursement contract: revised unofficial detour reimbursement contract (1703009) re-executed to reflect updated nondiscrimination language — approved. - Additional appropriations/transfer requests: multiple interfund transfers and additional appropriations (total amounts specified in the transcript) to support CCMG matching funds and other line items — approved. - Additional appropriation: MBH account for cold patch, $50,000 — approved. - Design plan approval: HWC Engineering design plan for Bremer Road (Little Calumet River small-structure replacement) — approved; project is 100% locally funded and will be bid with results expected at the April 22 meeting. - Donation: 1993 drawing of the Porter County Courthouse by Richard Eade committed to the Porter County Museum with stipulation that a high-quality print be made for display — approved. - Use of courthouse grounds: Northwest Activist / NWI Now permitted to use courthouse grounds (southeast/southwest corners) for an April 5 rally/food drive — approved.

(Where the transcript recorded only voice approval with no roll-call tally, outcomes above are summarized as “approved.” Specific mover/second names were not always stated in the transcript; those items are recorded as approved by the board’s voice votes as read in the meeting.)

Discussion vs. decisions

Most resident testimony about the data center was public comment only; no rezoning, permit or final approvals for any data-center proposal appeared on the board’s agenda or were decided at this meeting. The board repeatedly said the appropriate next steps are the formal planning commission process and any subsequent public hearings required by statute. Several residents requested a temporary pause on related applications pending independent studies and increased public outreach; commissioners did not adopt a pause at this meeting.

What happens next

Residents interested in the project — either supporters or opponents — should monitor formal filings with the Porter County Plan Commission and any rezoning or PUD applications. Commissioners signaled they will allow required hearings and staff review to proceed under state and county rules before taking any final vote.

Ending

Speakers closed by appealing to commissioners’ stewardship of local health and schools; commissioners closed the public-comment period and continued with the scheduled consent and business agenda items. The record shows strong community concern about locating a hyperscale data center adjacent to residential neighborhoods and schools, and the county’s next steps will be procedural: accepting any formal application, scheduling public hearings, and ensuring the planning-record process proceeds under applicable law.