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Residents ask De Soto council to investigate Chamber/EDC funding and possible NDAs tied to data‑center lobbying
Summary
At the Aug. 6 council meeting, resident Jennifer Sharp urged an 'immediate and independent investigation' into the city’s contract with the De Soto Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Council and asked the council to pause the contract while the probe proceeds. She alleged taxpayer funds supported lobbying for data‑center legislation.
Jennifer Sharp, a De Soto resident, urged the City Council to open "an immediate and independent investigation into the city’s financial contract with DeSoto Chamber Of Commerce and EDC," saying taxpayers' dollars are funneling to a private entity that she said lobbied for Senate Bill 51 and other measures that face community opposition.
Sharp asked whether any council members had signed nondisclosure agreements with a data‑center developer and demanded the council explain how much public money supported lobbying and testimony. "Our taxpayer dollars are being funneled into a private entity that is actively lobbying the state legislature for Senate Bill 51 and data centers projects that face overwhelming opposition," she said.
Resident Sarah Bandicreek expanded on legislative history she said affected the Astra/Sunflower site, alleging that language from one bill was moved into another and that the Chamber wrote letters in support of bills favoring redevelopment. Bandicreek told the council the Chamber "get[s] paid $190,000 a year" and said residents deserve clearer oversight and ordinance updates so the community has a voice in major land‑use decisions.
The mayor opened the matter for future review; the council did not take immediate action on Sharp’s request but agreed to continue public discussion as part of upcoming agenda items and public hearings tied to TIF and development requests.
