Residents press council on annexation, water fees and a proposed moratorium on data centers

At the start of public comments, Ed Hendrix urged the City of Hampton to reconsider a prior annexation that he said places him and a neighbor under city water and sewer-improvement fees even though they receive no city water or sewer service. Hendrix told the council he has raised the issue repeatedly over the past 18 months and said, "How can I be part of it when I don't pay into that system?" He asked the council to consider removing a city resolution so that he and another property owner could annex out, and said he planned to pursue the matter with the next council if necessary.

Tom Greer—speaking about proposed data centers—asked council members to impose a moratorium on further data-center construction pending answers about electricity and water supply, utility-rate impacts for residents and long-term studies of data-center effects near housing. Greer asked whether a DRI (Development of Regional Impact) review was completed prior to approval and requested a public review if revised plans are submitted.

A youth-council member also asked whether a DRI had been reviewed prior to approving a data center and said a DRI covers transportation, public facilities, economic, social and environmental concerns. The youth-council representative and other residents said they wanted more transparency and opportunity for public input on data-center impacts.

City staff did not make a new decision during public comment but took questions and later addressed related infrastructure and annexation items during council discussion.