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Yankton County votes to publish hearing on proposed moratorium for large data centers after extended debate
Summary
After extended debate about water use, noise, setbacks and zoning, commissioners voted to publish notice and schedule a hearing to consider a moratorium and draft ordinances restricting large data centers (the motion to publish carried with one abstention).
The Yankton County Commission on July 7 voted to publish notice and schedule a public hearing on a proposed moratorium and related zoning work for large data centers and similar large energy or battery projects.
Commissioner Ryan argued for an immediate moratorium to buy time for careful rules and to avoid a piecemeal response; legal counsel and other commissioners emphasized statutory notice requirements and the need to publish a hearing date first. After lengthy debate over scope—thresholds (the proposed draft targeted facilities above 250 kilowatts), water use, generator noise, visual screening, decommissioning bonds and whether battery storage should be included—the commission voted to publish the hearing notice and set the matter for a future meeting on the regular schedule.
"If we want that to happen, we need a moratorium to be passed tonight," Commissioner Ryan said during the debate, calling attention to petitions circulating to ban data centers. County legal counsel noted the commission must meet publication and notice requirements to adopt an emergency moratorium or related regulations.
Vote: the motion to publish the moratorium hearing passed (commission recorded 4 ayes and 1 abstention). The board also directed staff and the planning commission to begin work on zoning options, including conditional use permit procedures, setbacks, noise limits and decommissioning plans, and to return with draft language for further public input.
Provenance: The moratorium discussion, failed attempts to adopt an immediate moratorium, and the successful motion to publish the hearing are recorded across a lengthy exchange in the transcript; subsequent public comments noted petitions and citizen‑prepared ordinances already circulating.
Ending: The commission will hold a public hearing on the proposed moratorium and zoning changes in the coming meeting cycle; staff and planning officials were asked to prepare draft ordinance language for that hearing.
