Residents press Clinton council for moratorium and transparency over proposed QTS data center

A sustained public‑comment period at the Clinton City Council meeting focused on a proposed QTS hyperscale data center and drew repeated calls for delay, transparency, and independent study. Multiple residents urged an extended moratorium to allow environmental, traffic, water and wastewater, and land‑use assessments before ordinances or development agreements advance.

“I just wanna make mention of…communication,” said Joseph Miley, raising concerns about cellular and internet infrastructure impacts during construction and operation. Numerous residents said they learned about the proposal only recently despite records showing earlier contacts; Chris Andrews and Ryan Weiser cited FOIA records they said show infrastructure and incentive discussions dating to 2024. “24 months of secrecy,” one speaker said, arguing the public was not afforded timely notice.

Speakers pressed several concrete requests: publish all project documents and attorney communications; disclose any proposed incentives (residents cited a claimed 50% tax abatement for 10 years reported in public records); conduct independent water/wastewater, traffic, environmental, and cultural‑resource reviews; and consider a moratorium of 12–24 months. “It’s not too late to do the right thing and stop this data center from moving forward,” said Christine Boss, summarizing the position of many who testified.

Council members listened and thanked speakers; no final ordinance vote on a moratorium occurred at this meeting. Staff and council repeatedly noted the difference between ordinance drafting, zoning interpretation, and a development agreement that would come later; residents asked that any ordinance changes be posted and that citizen advisory participation be included in drafting. The public‑comment block concluded with the mayor closing comments and the council moving on to consent items.