Polk County Board votes to schedule public hearing on proposed data‑center moratorium (12–3)

Corporation counsel moved that the full Polk County Board hold the required public hearing on Resolution 2926, a temporary moratorium on data centers, and the board approved the motion by roll call, 12‑to‑3.

Joe Lopes, corporation counsel, explained that because the measure would amend the county’s zoning ordinance it requires a class‑2 notice and that having the full board hear the public testimony improves the defensibility of any later ordinance changes. After debate about whether the hearing should be held on the regular August board date or at a standalone meeting, the chair called a roll‑call vote that produced a 12‑to‑3 result in favor of scheduling the hearing for the August board meeting.

The motion put scheduling authority in the hands of the chair and county administrator to set a practicable date that meets notice requirements; corporation counsel advised that the board may want a separate meeting if heavy public comment is expected but also noted notice timing and an upcoming election as scheduling constraints.

Because the resolution amends the zoning ordinance, the public hearing will include the required notice and, if it occurs before the full board, the board could act on the resolution immediately after the hearing. No final vote on the moratorium was taken at the July 21 meeting.