Commissioners form committee to study data centers, seek volunteers to update ordinances

Following the rezoning item, commissioners reported on staffing and broader county planning items and discussed forming a county committee to examine ordinance updates to address potential casino and data center development.

One commissioner reported the county planning commission recently dedicated property at Tricky Lake and formally terminated the county plan director for cause; the county intends to split the building director and plan director positions into separate roles and is drafting job descriptions and compensation before advertising and hiring a replacement. The same commissioner said volunteers from the plan commission are helping carry the workload while the county completes the process.

Commissioners then described a new committee whose purpose is to collect and recommend ordinance language that could address gaming and data center developments. The stated goal is to prepare recommended ordinance changes that would protect local resources and infrastructure—not to preclude development. Staff said they have compiled ordinances from counties that already regulate such uses and will assign commissioners to contact those counties.

Discussion focused on resource impacts of data centers, especially water use and cooling systems. Commissioners noted that some data centers draw substantial natural resources and that environmental and water specialists should be part of the committee’s work. One commissioner said regional presentations have highlighted alternative cooling mechanisms and closed-loop systems, and staff and other commissioners confirmed those technical approaches will be considered.

Commissioners invited volunteers and said the committee will report back with recommended ordinance changes for board consideration. The meeting adjourned after no further questions.

Speakers who contributed to this discussion included multiple commissioners and planning staff; comments about alternative cooling were described as part of the committee scope rather than as an adopted policy.