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Residents urge caution over proposed data center, press council on NDAs and environmental impacts
Summary
Six residents told Maquoketa City Council they oppose rushing decisions on a proposed data center, raising concerns about water and power use, vibrations affecting wildlife, and overall quality of life; City Manager Joshua Boldt said neither he nor the council signed nondisclosure agreements.
Six residents told the Maquoketa City Council on July 20 they were worried about the local impacts of a proposed data center and asked the council not to rush into any decisions. Speakers raised specific concerns about the project’s water and power usage, potential vibrations and effects on wildlife, and the long-term effect on community quality of life.
During public comment multiple residents compared safeguards the city should require to those used at nuclear power plants and pressed for clarity on how water would be handled. One resident agreed that a closed water system would be the safest option after it was explained by staff. Residents also asked whether the city or staff had signed nondisclosure agreements related to the project; City Manager Joshua Boldt said, “non-disclosure agreements were not signed by him or the council.” The council did not take action on the proposal at the meeting and public comment was the only formal step taken on the item that evening.
The council did not announce a timetable for next steps during the meeting. The remarks came amid other agenda business that evening, and the council repeatedly carried motions by unanimous votes on procedural items and resolutions.
