McGregor residents at council meeting press city on data‑center sale, noise, water and tax impacts

Residents pressed the McGregor City Council on July 13 over a June 22 sale of land to a data‑center developer, voicing concerns about noise, water usage, tax revenue and public notice.

“My name is Andrea Thompson,” said Andrea Thompson during the public‑comment period, reading from a packet she said she had provided to council. Thompson said the city sold the parcel for $15,000 per acre, which she described as “less than commercial zone market value” and asserted comparable parcels sell for about $85,000 per acre; she said that difference represents a “$35,000,000 difference in revenue to the city.” Thompson also said the developer’s presentation showed a maximum of 55 decibels at the property line, while the contract references 65 decibels; she said she measured 63 decibels at her home on July 9 and warned that 24‑hour operations at those levels “would be a noise violation of the Nuisance Law.”

Thompson raised other claims about the agreement: that the 30 guaranteed jobs would pay below McGregor’s median income she cited, that the contract lacks provisions for coordinating safety with the volunteer fire department, that the taxable real property has an eight‑year completion window that could delay tax revenue, and that there is no mention of light or vibrational pollution and potential effects on pollinators and agriculture.

Peggy Cox, another resident, told the council that growth can bring opportunity but urged the city to be “responsible, transparent, and always put the people of McGregor first.” Cox asked the council to share the studies, agreements and protections that support decisions on large projects so residents can review potential impacts on water, electricity, traffic and emergency services.

Easter Glenn asked when residents were informed about the data‑center project; the mayor replied the city had been bound by a nondisclosure agreement (NDA) until the development agreement was approved, and acknowledged the city “should have come out and said” something sooner.

City staff and council members said the tax outcome for the data center will depend on certified appraised values published by the local appraisal district (staff said those values are expected at the end of July). Council members and staff also discussed how SpaceX and other large taxpayers are levied (including leasehold taxes and taxes on new buildings), but council did not take action on the public comments during the meeting.

What happens next: residents asked the council for more transparency and for staff to share studies and agreements; council did not announce additional formal action on the sale during this meeting. The mayor noted the city would provide follow‑up information as certified appraisals and other details become available.