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Mahaska County supervisors adopt moratorium to study data-center construction, appoint investigative board
Summary
The Mahaska County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously June 1 to impose a moratorium on new data-center construction in unincorporated areas and appointed a seven-member board to study potential impacts; no action was taken on license-plate-reader cameras.
The Mahaska County Board of Supervisors voted June 1 to impose a temporary moratorium on the construction of data centers in unincorporated areas and created a seven-member board to study the potential impacts.
Member Chuck Webb moved to adopt the resolution and Vice Chair Steve Wanders seconded; all present voted aye. The supervisors appointed Chuck Webb, Eric Dursky, John Bandstra, Ronda Almond, Micah VanMersbergen, Randy Pleima and Andy Alexander to the study board.
Discussion at the meeting also covered license-plate-reader cameras. Sheriff Russ Van Renterghem clarified terminology, saying, “these cameras are called ‘license plate readers,’ ‘flock’ is a specific brand for these cameras,” and expressed support for the technology, citing use in nearby counties that he said helped solve cases. The board took no formal action on cameras during the meeting.
The moratorium will pause approvals for new data-center construction in unincorporated Mahaska County while the appointed board reviews potential economic, infrastructure and privacy impacts and reports back to the Board of Supervisors. The county did not announce a deadline or reporting timeline for the investigative board during the session.
The motion carried unanimously; the board will proceed with the investigation before considering policy changes tied to data centers or related camera technology.
