Woodbury County imposes 12-month moratorium on data-center approvals in unincorporated areas

The Woodbury County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday voted 5-0 to adopt a 12-month moratorium on the acceptance, processing and approval of applications for all classes of data centers in the county’s unincorporated areas.

Supervisor Dan Priestley, who introduced the draft resolution, said the pause is intended to give the zoning commission and county staff time to “go through the intricacies” of how data centers would fit into Woodbury County’s comprehensive plan and permitting framework. Priestley said the moratorium would allow officials to analyze land-use impacts, conditional-use criteria, and conditions such as water, noise and decommissioning requirements and to hold public hearings.

The move follows weeks of public concern about a large proposed data campus near Salix and questions about transparency, local notice and long-term impacts. “This is an opportunity to basically take a year and to examine the intricacies,” Priestley said. He emphasized the moratorium applies only to unincorporated areas and does not affect proposals inside municipal boundaries.

During an extended public comment period, several residents said they were not opposed to data centers per se but felt they lacked basic information about the specific proposal. “I am not against data centers. I just don't know the first damn thing about this one and no one else does either,” said Ingred Brandon of Salix, urging the company (referred to in testimony as Mid America) to release studies on long-term site use and decommissioning. Union and construction representatives urged caution about blocking economic opportunities, saying projects can deliver construction work and tax revenue; one speaker cited regional examples of large data-center investment.

Board members framed the moratorium as a temporary, deliberative step. Several said the year can be shortened if issues are resolved or extended if more time is needed; supervisors also authorized the zoning commission to hold public input sessions across the county and to return recommendations to the board. Supervisor Nelson moved approval of the resolution; the motion carried 5-0.

Next steps outlined by the board include directing zoning staff to draft ordinance language and to schedule listening sessions this summer and into the fall so rural residents and municipal leaders can weigh in. The board also discussed preparing cost estimates and outreach plans so affected property owners receive timely notice of meetings.

The resolution does not ban projects inside city boundaries and does not itself change zoning law; it temporarily halts county-level processing and approvals while officials and the public review policy options and evidence. The zoning commission is expected to present recommendations and proposed ordinance language to the board after the study and public-input process are complete.