Following a tense, emotion-filled several hours inside the White Auditorium Municipal Courtroom Wednesday, Emporia City Commissioners unanimously approved a quintet of items related to the proposed data center project in west Emporia.
The items approved were as follows:
- A large volume water service policy
- A large volume wastewater service policy
- A Digital Infrastructure Overlay, with amendments to section 8.10
- The rezoning of 11 tracts of land (10 to light industrial and 1 to industrial flex)
- Application of the DIO to said tracts of land.
Mayor Becky Smith, when asked her feelings on the meeting and the commission’s decision, stated she and her fellow commissioners were not voting on the “greenlight” to any projects; they were voting simply on the matter before them — land use and protection policies — and she was following the process before them.
Commissioner Tammi Ogle acknowledged there are a lot of “feelings” on both sides of the matter before saying, “However, feelings are not facts and we are looking for facts.”
Commissioner Kurt Steinkuhler says the steps taken Wednesday echoed Ogle’s comments, noting this is the first step toward greater clarity on a potential project, as the next phase of work will be identifying an end user and developing a potential agreement.
Commissioners rendered their decisions following yet another lengthy period of public comment from those both in favor and staunchly opposed to the Flint Hills Digital Campus project. Among those in favor, a common theme of support was the potential economic impacts the project could have, many of which have been contested by opposition as it was again Wednesday.
In addition, opposition again shared concerns of transparency, environmental impacts, impacts on resources and the concerns around the project’s development company, Kanza Park Place, including the dispute as to the role of originally presented developer Gary Pinkston. Opposition also directed comments at city leadership, saying they have not been “listening or engaging with the community,” with Emporia Neighbors United spokesman Jay Vehige stating the commission’s decisions were dissapointing and feels it furthers the organization’s assertions that the people’s voices are being ignored.
Commissioner Monica Duncan refuted those claims both during the meeting and in an interview with KVOE News following.
Commissioner Erren Harter also addressed these comments saying he is in favor of more discussion and engagement between the city and community, proposing a committee of some kind is created to that effect.
Wednesday’s meeting did become heated at times, with one individual being forcefully removed from the courtroom after being asked to leave by commissioners and Emporia Police for what they deemed to be disruptive behavior. Emporia Police Chief Ed Owens:
Mayor Smith did issue a request to all in attendance at Wednesday’s meeting before the public comment period began, saying anyone who was found to be disruptive would be asked to leave the meeting. Commissioner Duncan says the audience was issued multiple warnings before the action was taken.
Vehige called the action “outrageous,” adding that he felt the reason for the individual’s removal, clapping following public comments, was not disrupting the meeting’s proceedings or anyone’s comments.
A second individual was also escorted out of the meeting during the presentation of the rezoning item; however, they left on their own power.
Before Wednesday’s meeting, the Lyon County Clerk’s Office did verify one of two petitions recently submitted by Emporia Neighbors United seeking to stop high-impact data centers or place the matter on an upcoming election ballot, likely in November. The second petition, seeking the same for battery energy storage systems, is currently under review.
Commissioners may consider those items as part of their August 5 action meeting.
Following Wednesday’s developments, Vehige, both during his comments to the commission and while speaking with KVOE News, stated a new set of petitions is currently being circulated looking to restructure the current city government.
Vehige adds another petition looking to remove the current commission policy for filling vacant positions is also in the development and circulation stage.
KVOE News has reached out to Kanza Park Place spokesman Garrett Nordstrom for comment on Wednesday’s developments and is awaiting a response. The city’s actions come a day before Lyon County Commissioners are set to consider approving a moratorium on data centers and solar farm developments in the county as part of their regular action meeting Thursday at 9 am inside the Lyon County Courthouse Commission Chambers.
