Resident asks about 5-million-square-foot data center; board says it is not considering one and moves to closed session on real estate

A member of the public asked the Cerro Gordo County Board of Supervisors at its June 15 meeting whether the county was entertaining plans for 'a 5 million square foot data center.' Board members responded the county was not considering such a project.

Shortly after that exchange the board voted to go into closed session under Iowa Code to discuss the purchase or sale of real estate, citing the statutory provision that a closed session is appropriate when discussion could reasonably be expected to increase or decrease the price the governmental body would pay or receive for property. Supervisors moved and seconded the motion to enter closed session and the chair called the roll; Gina and Watts were recorded voting 'yes' in the portion of the roll call captured in the transcript.

No formal discussion of any specific data-center proposal is recorded in the public portion of the meeting; the resident’s question was answered with a denial that the county was 'entertaining anything' of that scale, and the board recessed to closed session for the real-estate discussion.