Get AI Briefings, Transcripts & Alerts on Local & National Government Meetings — Forever.
Cass County commissioners tighten rules for data centers, adopt floodplain update; battery and solar ordinances tabled
Loading...
Summary
At an April meeting, the Cass County commissioners adopted a DNR‑requested floodplain ordinance update and approved a zoning change to prohibit data‑processing facilities; commissioners tabled proposed battery‑storage and solar rules for further detail after public and staff concerns about noise, containment and emergency equipment.
Cass County commissioners on April 2026 approved an update to the county floodplain ordinance and voted to prohibit data‑processing (data‑center) uses in county zoning, while tabling proposed rules for battery energy storage and solar energy conversion systems for more detailed review.
The actions came after presentations by county planning staff and public comments asking for clearer standards on sound measurement, containment liners and emergency equipment. Erin, from the planning department, said the battery and solar drafts include limits and safety controls but still lack some specifics commissioners wanted.
"So right now, we're just saying it's not allowed in any district — data processing," Erin said, explaining planning staff recommended a prohibition until county and higher‑level standards are settled. In a separate presentation on accessory battery energy storage, Erin said the draft would permit accessory systems in only certain zoning districts, require third‑party pre‑ and post‑construction testing, set noise limits (60 decibels at the nearest property line and 45 decibels at the nearest residence), require a minimum 7‑foot fence, cap structure height at 15 feet, and require emergency‑response and decommissioning plans to be approved by the commissioners.
A commissioner who supported the data‑center restriction said the county is not ready to entertain permit requests for those facilities and preferred to defer to state or federal guidance. "It's easier for me to just say they're not permitted and see what happens at a different level," the commissioner said.
Public commenter Laura Redwick, who identified her address, urged stronger technical language in the drafts. "I didn't see that the language had changed to put the up‑to‑date industry standards," Redwick said, and asked that the code require geomembrane (high‑density) liners for chemical containment and that emergency equipment be provided before a building permit is issued. Planning staff replied that emergency plans must be provided but the timing for equipment delivery and whether plans must explicitly cover natural disasters needs clarification.
After discussion about terminology (for example, what "immediate" means in an emergency plan) and a concern from planning staff about statutory timelines for adoption, commissioners voted to table both the accessory battery energy storage ordinance and the solar energy conversion ordinance. Planning staff was directed to gather the commissioners' requested edits and return the revised language to the planning commission for another recommendation before the board considers adoption.
Votes at a glance - Approve minutes (04/06/2026): motioned by Committee member, seconded and approved (voice vote). - Approve claims and payroll (April 3 and April 17): approved (voice vote). - Ordinance 2026‑07 (floodplain update): passed (voice vote). Chair said the change responds to DNR recommendations and helps clarify insurance/representation questions. - Ordinance 2026‑08 (data processing / data centers): passed (voice vote); planning staff characterized the change as a county‑level prohibition pending more detailed standards. - Accessory battery energy storage ordinance (proposed): tabled for further edits and clarification (revote confirmed tabling). - Solar energy conversion ordinance (proposed): tabled for further review. - Resolution 2026‑07 (Grissom Airshow road closures): approved to permit temporary closures of 1100 East within the aerobatic box for scheduled show dates and practice times; staff to confirm contact with the homeowner inside the box. - Sheriff’s office request to begin hiring for a clerical vacancy (effective May 1): authorized to proceed with hiring steps. - Community corrections part‑time rehire: approved.
Why it matters The changes affect how Cass County will handle proposed energy and infrastructure projects and what developments are allowed in unincorporated areas. The data‑processing prohibition is a preemptive zoning response to an uptick in interest in large data facilities and is intended to buy time for the county to adopt operational and environmental standards. The battery and solar rules include technical requirements that could affect permitting and siting of systems once commissioners return finalized language.
What comes next Planning staff will collect the commissioners’ requested edits and send revised ordinance language back to the planning commission for recommendation. Tabling preserves the current rules while staff and commissioners refine technical details (noise metrics, containment liners, emergency equipment timing) and confirm statutory deadlines for final action.
Sources and context This article is based on the Cass County Board of Commissioners public meeting transcript: presentations by Erin (planning department), public comments by Laura Redwick, and votes recorded by the board. Other department reports and routine approvals were heard at the same meeting, including an approved road‑closure resolution for the Grissom Airshow and routine personnel and claims approvals.
