Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Comment Data Center topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Residents urge city to scrutinize proposed data center, citing water, grid and quality concerns
Summary
During the April 21 hearing of visitors, two nearby residents urged the council to investigate a proposed data center (referred to variously in the record as “INF,” “Infor” and “Infy”), raising worries about water supply, electric-grid strain, air quality, property values and construction impacts; they asked for transparency and coordination with Lacy Lakeview and Baylor.
WACO — Two residents used the hearing-of-visitors portion of the April 21 City Council meeting to press the council for more information and oversight of a proposed data center sited near residential areas in Waco’s extraterritorial jurisdiction.
Carla Garcia (2789 Ross Road) warned that the proposed data center—referred to in public comments and in the transcript with inconsistent spellings including “INF,” “Infor” and “Infy”—could stress local water supplies and the electric grid, raise electricity rates, and affect air quality and neighborhood safety during construction. "These are issues that will affect everyone in this room," she said, urging the council to consider siting such facilities in industrial zones rather than within neighborhoods.
Beth Hassel (1903 Fort Graham Road) told council members that neighbors fear impacts to agriculture and livestock, local water availability (the transcript notes water would be supplied via Lacy Lakeview), property values, tourism and events that rely on hotel capacity for visitors to Baylor athletic events and downtown attractions. She said residents seek facts, transparency and clarity about permits and environmental reviews, and asked whether the city would be involved with sewer or infrastructure arrangements tied to the project.
Both speakers urged the council to explore collaboration with Lacy Lakeview and Baylor and to require clear monitoring, permitting and public disclosures. There was no staff response recorded on the transcript during the hearing-of-visitors segment; the meeting moved on after the speakers concluded.
What’s next: Speakers requested follow-up and transparency. The transcript records their requests; the council did not announce any immediate directive in response during this meeting.
