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Des Moines County board asks land-use staff to study data-center ordinance during moratorium
Summary
During a July 7 meeting the Des Moines County Board of Supervisors asked land-use staff to evaluate options and provide a cost estimate for drafting an ordinance while a temporary moratorium on data centers remains in place.
The Des Moines County Board of Supervisors on July 7 asked land-use staff to examine options for an ordinance to regulate data centers and to return with an estimate of what that work would cost.
The request came during the "future agenda" portion of the meeting, when a board speaker noted the county currently has "a moratorium on data centers, while we study the issue and create an ordinance," and asked whether land-use staff could take on the research and drafting. The speaker asked staff "to get back to us an idea of what that might cost." (Kevin Glendamy, department head)
Land-use staff said the county has historically handled zoning, subdivision and related ordinance updates under an existing administration contract for routine changes but has used separate contracts for major overhauls. Jared Laster (land use) and other staff said minor updates are often done through the administration contract, while larger projects — including the recent wind and solar ordinance work — were executed as separate contracts.
"Historically, we've done those things kinda under that contract, but when it comes to something where it's either a new ordinance or a major overhaul, we'll do those as a separate contract," a land-use official said. Staff offered to review whether the proposed data-center ordinance could be handled within their current contract scope or would require a new agreement or outside consultant.
Board members and staff discussed using the regional Council of Governments as an alternative to a separate county contract; the Council can provide regional planning and ordinance drafting assistance for member jurisdictions. Staff noted that counties in the region have asked similar questions and that the council sometimes helps provide capacity for work local staffs cannot absorb.
The board did not direct staff to begin a formal procurement during the meeting; instead members requested an estimate of hours and costs and asked staff to report back. No vote was taken on an ordinance or contract at this meeting.
The board's next procedural steps will depend on the forthcoming estimate: if staff recommends a separate contract, the board can place a procurement or contract authorization on a future agenda for consideration.
