Company presents potential bitcoin mine expansion, highlights water and electricity use

Following adjournment of the regular meeting, the Des Moines County Board of Supervisors held a work session in which John Paul Baric, president of AUR Middletown LLC, presented on the company’s current bitcoin mining operation and discussed options for future expansion.

Baric’s presentation concentrated on two operational constraints: water consumption and electricity usage. He outlined the mine’s current resource needs and described scenarios for how an expansion could change those demands. The presentation concluded with a floor question‑and‑answer period; county officials and attendees asked clarifying questions but no formal action or vote was taken during the session.

The work session was informational. The transcript records no motion or directive to approve expansion, nor did it record commitments for county regulatory approval or incentive packages. Next steps, if any, were not specified in the posted minutes.

Work session context: the board previously heard engineering and infrastructure updates during the regular meeting, and the subject of resource usage for a large‑scale data center or mining operation relates to county planning, utilities, and possible permit requirements. Any future proposal that requires zoning, permitting, or utility coordination would be addressed in future meetings if submitted to the county.