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Residents urge caution on data centers and demand clearer special‑event permitting
Summary
Public commenters raised separate concerns: a resident warned about water and power demands from proposed data centers and secrecy around deals; another urged the county to adopt clearer special‑event permitting and campground rules, citing statutory requirements and a lack of transparency at a prior meeting.
Two members of the public used the meeting’s comment period to raise distinct civic concerns.
Resident Vern Tuss warned commissioners about risks from large data centers and AI operations, citing high water and electricity use and the possibility of non‑disclosure agreements limiting public oversight. "Data centers consume enormous amounts of electricity and water, Sabey's proposed data center in Butte‑Silver Bow is a 50‑megawatt facility," Tuss told the commission, and urged officials to scrutinize proposed deals and resource impacts.
Separately, Linda Brooks submitted written comment urging the commission to follow County Attorney Morgan Smith’s legal advice and rewrite the county’s special‑event permit application. Brooks said the county had not required specific liquor‑liability or campground documentation in a timely way for a July 7 pop‑up Washoe Park campground and cited MCA 50‑52‑103 and ARM 37.111.1224 as relevant authorities. Brooks asked that the county adopt clearer application language and ensure public notice requirements are followed.
The commission accepted the comments into the record; staff and the county attorney were asked to consider the concerns and return with recommendations where appropriate.
