Developer presents hyperscale‑data‑center concept; city to study water, noise and power

Mayor and staff opened a work session to discuss data‑center planning and introduced developer Jim Conland, who presented a concept for a hyperscale campus on county land owned by Mr. Spiegel south of Highway 20. Conland said the property could be annexed into the city if owners agreed but stressed the presentation was informational: "it's a concept," he said, and "we're not there" on any deal. The developer emphasized that hyperscale facilities typically require very large electrical supply or on‑site generation and that the site selection is driven primarily by energy access.

Conland described two technical paths: grid connection near a major substation (not available locally) or a "behind‑the‑meter" option with on‑site natural‑gas power. He said a typical hyperscale benchmark is about 350 megawatts of electricity and that "the only place you can put a hyperscale data center is relatively close to a very large substation," explaining why local options are limited. Councilors and residents asked for follow‑up on water supply agreements, acoustical testing, road‑use agreements for construction and binding terms that would appear in a development agreement if the project advances. The mayor closed the meeting saying ordinance work and public engagement will continue before any formal proposal is filed.