Residents press board for information on proposed data center; city says much of project may be outside city jurisdiction

Warrenton 1 During public comment, residents pressed the board for details about a proposed data center project and its potential impacts on power, water and local services.
Resident Anna Farrar read a prepared list of questions and asked who the developer and operator are, which parcels are under contract, whether Ameren or MISO confirmed that the data center's power demands and substation upgrades will be fully funded by the project or passed to ratepayers, and what water use and cooling methods are planned. Farrar said she had been told by landowners that Evolve planned construction work "next month" and that she could not find official city or county documents providing clarity.
City Administrator Brandy Walters responded that, to her knowledge, the matter currently lies outside the city's direct jurisdiction and that no developer had formally come to the city with a site plan or approvals. Walters asked Farrar to leave contact information so staff could follow up.
Another resident, Angie Krekler, said she relies on a private well and expressed concern that large industrial water users and new facilities could draw down groundwater or change flows; she also referenced a recent meat-packing plant that required new water infrastructure.
Nut graf: Residents asked for disclosure on developer identity, parcel details, utility impacts, incentives, construction timing and mitigation measures. City staff acknowledged gaps in what the city had been asked to review, directed residents toward the county administrator and regional planning meetings for additional information, and agreed to have staff follow up on questions left with the city.
The meeting record shows the city did not present an approved site plan or development agreement at the meeting; staff indicated that parts of the electrical work referenced (Root Beer substation) are in the county and that the Booneslick Regional Planning Committee was meeting soon and might be a venue for more information. Walters said staff would attempt to answer the written questions if the speaker left contact information.
Ending: Residents seeking more detail were advised to contact the county administrator and the Booneslick Regional Planning Committee and to provide contact information to city staff for follow-up. The city did not announce formal approvals or incentives for any such data center at the meeting.