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McDONALD -- Officials with Oppidan said a proposed data center possibly to be located at the former McDonald Steel property will mean 250 full-time jobs and $7.3 million in property taxes for the village, but residents are concerned with emissions, noise and environmental issues if such a facility is built.
While a handful of people held "No Data Center" signs outside the McDonald High School gymnasium, more than 190 gathered inside to hear from Oppidan officials.
Drew Johnson, senior vice president of development for Oppidan, of Minnesota, which also builds senior housing, said the 360-acre site would have nine to 12 data center buildings, two to four administrative support buildings and offices, a greenspace/park area, 250 full-time jobs of $85,000 to $150,000, and pay $7.3 million annually in property taxes.
Johnson said if approved, the data centers would be a five-year, phase-construction build.
He said the property is being checked, particularly the soil and any contaminants such as asbestos and if there is any environmental cleanup needed.
Johnson said no site plan has been submitted to the village that would require zoning board and council approval. He said Oppidan would be the developer and owner of the data center if it moves forward, and then if it proceeds and is constructed, the operator would take over.
He said local residents could be hired for jobs at the data center.
Johnson said while there have been talks with the owners of the property, which he said is Applied Partners, no finalized deal is in place.
"We do have a deal to purchase the site from the current owners," Johnson said.
He said the owners have done demolition and recycling of the existing structure at the site.
He said other data centers the company owns, including one in Hilliard, have 85% of the employees living within 25 miles of the data center where they work.
He said the company will be transparent with the residents.
Richard Manser, an environmental geologist and independent contractor for Oppidan, said the large-scale industrial property is zoned both for light industrial and heavy industrial. He added that the property will be checked for asbestos and any soil contaminants, as well as groundwater checks and checks for any underground storage.
Once completed, the property can be cleaned up to meet EPA standards.
"We want to take an unused site and bring it back up to standard for usage. This will help the local tax base with the property being used," Manser said.
The steel mills were on the property from 1915 to 2023 when they closed.
Mayor Ray Lewis said Oppidan officials asked to speak to the public about what is being proposed.
CLOSE TO THE SITE
The project brought concerns from many of the residents.
Cara Pecchia, owner of the Learning Tree Preschool and After School Center, which is located across the street from the proposed site, said she is concerned since her business is so close to where a data center is being considered for location.
"I have so many concerns, and the parents of the children are concerned. I understand the village needs money, but it seems we have no answers to our questions," Pecchia said.
Pecchia said her business has 120 children attending and 25 adults working there.
Joe Guarino said he wants council to be able to enact a moratorium to allow more time to study data centers and potential effects on the community.
"We have listened to your words, and now you need to listen to our words," Guarino said. He received applause from many in the gymnasium.
Village council is scheduled to meet at 5 p.m. Wednesday at the community center to consider emergency legislation, possibly on a moratorium for data centers.