Residents urge Polk County to impose moratorium on data centers, citing water and health concerns

Dozens of residents spoke during the public‑comment period at the Polk County Board of Supervisors’ July 21 meeting urging the board to adopt a temporary moratorium on data centers and to tighten shoreline protections.

“We need more time to fully understand the enormous scale and long‑term impacts of these facilities,” said Angie, who identified herself at the podium and asked the board to “put residents first, not special interests.” Multiple speakers warned that data centers can consume large amounts of water, add noise and generate other long‑term environmental harms.

Speakers included a biological safety specialist who described possible human‑health and ecological risks and asked the board to study noise, water and energy impacts before permitting large facilities. Others raised local economic concerns, saying data centers often seek tax incentives, build permanent large structures and may not provide long‑term local employment proportional to public costs.

Several commenters also urged the board to strengthen shoreland ordinances to protect lakes and surface waters and asked the county to convene a broad advisory group with representatives from townships, villages, municipalities and agricultural interests to guide ordinance development.

Some speakers requested that a supervisor with known ties to data‑center interests recuse themselves from future votes; the board did not take a recusal vote during the meeting.

The board chair reminded speakers that Resolution 2926 — the proposed moratorium — requires a separate public hearing before any final action could be taken.