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Residents press council on fire-damaged property, fuel planning and lawsuits; MCEA suit dismissed
Summary
Public commenters raised concerns about a fire-damaged property, potential fuel shortages, and lawsuits related to past projects; Duane Rader said the MCEA lawsuit was dismissed because no active data-center proposal existed and reported 383 signatures toward a referendum requiring 417.
Several residents used the public-comment period to press the council on local concerns, including a fire-damaged property, planning for potential fuel shortages, and the status of local lawsuits.
Barb Church asked that council members and staff use microphones more effectively and raised a fire-damaged property in her neighborhood that she said has not been corrected; Attorney Kennedy said criminal charges are being pursued and that unless the building is determined unsafe the City’s authority is limited. Benton Bakke raised concerns about continuing fuel shortages and asked the City to consider planning for a lower-energy future, and questioned NDAs and infrastructure limits related to potential data centers.
Duane Rader asked whether a formal data-center proposal had been received and said he believed any misinformation on the subject was likely coming from local media rather than the City Council; he also said the MCEA lawsuit was dismissed because there was no active data-center proposal, and he reported that residents collected 383 signatures toward a referendum (417 required). "Mr. Rader stated that he was supportive of the City’s consideration of a moratorium," the minutes record.
The council did not take immediate action on these citizen requests at the meeting; Attorney Kennedy noted limited remedies if the building is not legally unsafe and referenced potential civil remedies for neighbors.
