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Page residents press council over data-center secrecy as city posts FAQ page
Summary
Long public comment at the Jan. 14 meeting centered on confidentiality around a proposed data center and requested clarity on NDAs and operator identity. The city manager published an FAQ page and the council declined to add a public questionnaire to a future agenda at this time.
Dozens of residents addressed the Page City Council on Jan. 14 urging greater transparency about a proposed data-center project, questioning nondisclosure agreements and asking who would operate the facility.
“Have the NDAs expired? If not, what date do they expire?” asked Sharon Woodard, whose public comment accused city leaders of gathering information in secret and asked for clearer answers about the developer and operator. Beth Henshaw urged the council to consider a pause on new data-center construction, citing national environmental groups and raising concerns about unregulated uses of artificial intelligence.
Not all speakers opposed the project. Aiden Egan told the council he supports locating a data center in Page, saying it would create jobs and boost tourism. “I do genuinely believe that adding a data center is going to improve the quality and lives of all Page citizens,” Egan said.
In response to the volume of public concerns, the city manager—speaking at his first official council meeting—announced that staff had launched a frequently asked questions page on the city website that links to the land-sale and ordinance documents and provides a way for residents to submit questions. “We have a way on this page to also ask questions or maybe suggestions of things to be put on here to add to it,” the city manager said.
Council members debated whether to put a citywide questionnaire on a future agenda to measure public understanding of the project and identify recurring misconceptions. After discussion, Councilor Hammond moved not to add that questionnaire to a future agenda at this time; several council members voiced opposition to scheduling the questionnaire now, while others said the new FAQ page and ongoing staff communications may address many concerns.
The council did not take a final policy vote on the data-center project during the meeting; presenters and staff said further public comment opportunities and votes will be scheduled as the land-sale and contract process progresses. Council members encouraged residents to use the city’s new webpage for documents and questions and said staff will add future public-comment dates to the calendar.
