Residents urge delay, transparency on proposed data centers; cite health and fiscal concerns

Two residents used public comment to press the Monticello City Council for a pause and clearer information before the city advances data‑center proposals.

Scott, who identified himself as a Hunter's Crossing resident, told the council he believes decisions should wait until after an Xcel study is finished and until after the upcoming election. "I'm just gonna ask 1 more time for moratorium on the data center until 02/01/2027," he said, arguing that the study (he said is due at the end of December) and the election results should be honored when weighing future approvals. He also raised budget concerns, reading figures from public documents about the city's current general obligation and lease revenue debt and projected additional public‑works bonding.

Another resident, Jenna Vandenboom of Featherstone, urged the council to require developers to show the data behind claims about community benefits and to account for public‑health costs tied to emissions from supporting infrastructure. Citing academic modeling, she warned that data‑center related air pollution could impose very large public‑health costs and wrote that "Trust us is not a public safety policy." She asked for the same evidence the city and developers are seeing, including numbers on jobs, tax revenue and infrastructure impacts.

The speakers framed their comments as a demand for more transparent, evidence-based decision making rather than a categorical rejection: both asked the city to withhold final approvals until technical studies are complete and the community has had a chance to review the findings.

The council did not take action on data‑center policy at this meeting; public comment ended and the agenda moved on to liaison updates and budget items.