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Moscow Mills board approves multiple ordinances, enacts yearlong moratoria on data centers and solar farms
Summary
At its April 20 meeting the Board of Aldermen approved several ordinances and resolutions — including dissolving the Park Board, extending the mayoral term, administrative staffing changes, and one-year moratoria on data centers and solar farms — all by unanimous votes or 'all in favor.'
Moscow Mills — The Board of Aldermen on April 20 approved a package of ordinances and resolutions that reshape some city governance roles, clear the way to redeem outstanding water/sewer bonds and temporarily bar new large-scale data centers and solar farms.
City Clerk Terri Park read titles into the record as the board took up each item. Ordinance #1148, repealing the municipal Park Board, passed after a motion by Alderman Steve Aston and a second from Cody Quist; a roll-call vote recorded all four aldermen as voting aye. The board also approved Ordinance #1149 to change the mayoral term from two years to four years, Ordinance #1152 amending City Clerk duties and creating the appointive office of Finance Director, and Ordinance #1153 authorizing redemption of the city’s 2019 waterworks and sewerage revenue bonds. Ordinance #1154 updated the city code to align record-provision costs with state law.
Two land‑use resolutions were adopted to pause new applications. Resolution #1150 imposes a one-year moratorium on acceptance of applications related to the establishment or expansion of data centers within Moscow Mills; Resolution #1151 imposes a one-year moratorium on acceptance of applications related to the establishment or expansion of solar farms. Both resolutions were read by Terri Park and approved by voice vote.
Other actions included Resolution #1155, an amendment to the city’s meeting and records policy. All items requiring a roll-call vote were recorded as four ayes by the clerk.
Votes at a glance
- Ordinance #1148 (repeal Park Board): mover Steve Aston; seconder Cody Quist; outcome: approved (roll-call: Amy Vollmer, Steve Aston, Cody Quist, Liz Streckfuss — all aye). - Ordinance #1149 (mayoral term: two → four years): mover Cody Quist; seconder Liz Streckfuss; outcome: approved. - Resolution #1150 (one-year moratorium — data centers): mover Steve Aston; seconder Amy Vollmer; outcome: adopted. - Resolution #1151 (one-year moratorium — solar farms): mover Amy Vollmer; seconder Steve Aston; outcome: adopted. - Ordinance #1152 (city clerk/finance director duties, appointive status): mover Cody Quist; seconder Liz Streckfuss; outcome: approved. - Ordinance #1153 (redeem water/sewer revenue bonds, series 2019): mover Cody Quist; seconder Amy Vollmer; outcome: approved. - Ordinance #1154 (records cost code amendment): mover Amy Vollmer; seconder Steve Aston; outcome: approved. - Resolution #1155 (meeting and records policy amendment): mover Cody Quist; seconder Steve Aston; outcome: adopted.
Why it matters
The moratoria give the city time to consider local regulations and zoning implications for large‑scale data centers and solar farms before accepting new applications. Changes to administrative roles, including establishing a finance director as an appointive officer, adjust the city’s internal governance structure. The bond-redemption ordinance affects the city’s water and sewer debt portfolio; the clerk recorded votes and certified passage on the ordinances and resolutions during the meeting.
The board adjourned after the remaining agenda items were handled; several items (website and communications purchases, camera expansion, and personnel policy discussion) were approved or noted elsewhere on the agenda.
