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Resident urges community meeting as proposal for Bitcoin mining center raises transparency concerns
Summary
A Cascade resident asked the City Council to schedule a public meeting on a proposed Bitcoin mining center at the Cascade Industrial Park, saying residents — particularly those in Oak Hill — face misinformation, redacted documents and uncertainty about economic development agreements.
Marila Gudnikoff, a Cascade resident of about 30 years, told the City Council on Tuesday that citizens need a public meeting about a proposed Bitcoin mining center planned for the Cascade Industrial Park. "There's so much misinformation, so many rumors, and just a complete lack of information out there for the public," she said, asking the council to schedule a sit-down so people can hear details and ask questions.
Council members and meeting participants said the project remains at the planning stage and that the property owner or developer will hold a public presentation once plans are finalized. "When he has his plan ready, he's gonna have a meeting," one meeting participant said in response to Gudnikoff.
Other commenters pressed for clearer oversight of the economic development corporation that has been handling outreach and negotiations with the developer. Speakers at the microphone said the economic development group operates separately from the city and that requested documents supplied to residents were heavily redacted. One commenter alleged, without documentary evidence in the meeting record, that the developer would pay the economic development group $125,000 "in lieu of property tax"; council members did not confirm that figure during public comment.
Council discussion at the meeting indicated some council representation on the economic development board; a council member said they serve on the board "as a director" and also act as a city representative when attending those meetings. Multiple council members said they did not have full details and reiterated that a formal public meeting will be scheduled once the owner/developer finalizes a plan and is ready to present details.
The public comment on the mining proposal took place during the allotted public comment period. The council did not take formal action on the item during Tuesday's meeting; items on the agenda proceeded to the consent agenda and scheduled hearings.
