Resident urges Tonganoxie council to monitor proposed Tailgate Ranch data center, citing water and emissions concerns

Rebecca Davis, who identified herself as a Tonganoxie resident and a member of a local data center watchdog group, told the City Council on March 16 that a proposed data center at Tailgate Ranch could strain local infrastructure and asked council members to attend a Leavenworth County Commissioners special session on data centers scheduled for March 18.

"I'm here on behalf of a Tonganoxie data center watchdog group," Davis said. She listed primary concerns: "noise pollution, heavy energy demand, lots and lots of water consumption" and said the project could rely on the city's water system. Davis added that the venture appears to involve an intermediary named Cloverleaf and said many details remain unknown.

Davis also raised health and local economic concerns, warning that backup generators could produce diesel emissions and that construction will create a short-term jobs boom but only "a couple dozen" long-term positions. "We're not anti-development," she said. "We just want good neighbors." She asked council members to attend the commissioners' meeting and to monitor how potential incentives, water access and emergency-service impacts are addressed.

The council took no formal action on the comment. Staff and council members did not present additional factual details about ownership, water-right arrangements or tax-incentive terms during the meeting; Davis said much of that information is still unknown. The council did not vote or direct staff at the March 16 meeting; Davis' request was to raise awareness and invite council to the county discussion.

Next steps: Councilmembers and staff may follow up with county officials or request additional information from project proponents; the county special session on March 18 will be the next public venue where details may be released.