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Residents raise water, wastewater and decommissioning concerns about proposed data center
Summary
Six speakers urged the Ottawa City Commission to scrutinize a proposed data center, citing large water demands, wastewater contaminants, firefighting and decommissioning risks, and uncertainties in revenue projections; no formal action was taken tonight.
At the commission’s July 8 meeting, six registered public commenters urged city officials to press for more details and stronger protections before approving terms for a proposed data center project near Ottawa.
"What happens if this building is abandoned for whatever reason? Maybe after the tax abatement is over…what happens with that building and all the hazardous things that it contains?" asked Susan Hughes, who gave her address and asked whether the city had plans for decommissioning and fire suppression for the facility. Hughes also asked whether the city has adequate testing to detect contaminants that may enter the wastewater system.
Several commenters focused on the project’s water demand. Scott Yergan cited state data and told commissioners that Ottawa’s municipal water use rose from about 88.82 gallons per capita per day to roughly 116 gallons, and argued the city may lack the water rights to support the data center’s needs. Holly Steamer and Faith, a Central Heights FFA officer, warned that data centers can use millions of gallons per day and that those withdrawals could threaten farmland, livestock and community supplies during droughts.
Michael Lewis questioned the revenue projections staff presented, saying the numbers shown last week were cumulative rather than annual and that long-term estimates rely on today’s mill rates and valuations. "These are based on today's numbers…these mill rates and those valuations all of those things change annually for all of us," he said, urging the commission to consider a guaranteed payment or payment-in-lieu-of-taxes to protect the city from future valuation appeals or tax-law changes.
Commissioners received the comments during the public-comment period; the commission did not take a formal vote or adopt new policy on the proposal at this meeting. Staff and commissioners acknowledged the concerns and indicated the topic remains under review in staff briefings and future agenda items.
