New data centers blocked while further research takes place

March was a month of data center talk in Union County. In the last meeting for the month, Union County moved forward with their plans to stifle the construction of them.

After weeks of discussion on what data centers would look like in the rural county, including the potential use of natural resources, Union County will prohibit the construction of any new data center and other high-density facilities in the county.

The moratorium enacts this ban for “up to one year,” which could shorten based on the research of the newly created data center committee. The goal of this committee is to inform the board of supervisors on recommended regulatory framework and additional research they will perform. The supervisors will revisit data center development within the next year.

According to the moratorium, the committee will research, “the long-term demands on public infrastructure (electrical power, water supply, transportation systems and emergency services) as well as potential impacts on surrounding land uses and environmental resources.”

The committee is comprised of an occupationally diverse group of Union County residents. Some notable representation comes from SIRWA and Southwest Iowa REC (owner of the sole data center in the county), as well as landowners, activists and Union County Assessor Jessica Hagen.

In other Union County news...

Union County approved changes to the compensation board’s recommended increases to elected official’s salaries. These new salaries will be in effect in the next fiscal year starting July 1. The changes mostly decrease the proposed increases in salary by about two-thirds of their original proposal. They are as follows:

- Auditor - 4% increase (6% proposed), $79,043.97 approved salary.

- Attorney - 2.5% (6%), $124,776.85

- Recorder - 4% (6%), $79,043.97

- Sheriff - 7% (8%), $111,339.14

- Supervisors - 2.5% (4%), $32,320.20

- Treasurer - 4% (6%), $29,043.97

The county received a petition for a service change on 225th Street in Grant Township. The section of road was proposed to be changed from Level B to Level C, meaning it will only receive county maintenance on an as-needed basis. A public hearing on the matter was scheduled for April 15.