Data center company will meet with McDonald officials

Oppidan eyeing former steel factory as possible site

McDONALD -- A company interested in possibly locating a data center in the village will meet with members of council, the administration and the public next month.

Mayor Ray Lewis on Wednesday told a crowd of more than 75 people who gathered at the village community room that officials with Oppidan will address the public at a meeting Sept. 15 at McDonald High School. There was a standing room only crowd at Wednesday's meeting, with many people also standing outside.

Fire Chief Fred Marcum said the room was above capacity, so he made sure to let everyone know all the fire exits. Lewis said he had a coffee talk Monday with some residents to discuss data centers, with plans for additional ones in the future.

"People who want to ask us questions of me or members of council on data centers can get in contact with us," Lewis said.

He said last month, he received word of a potential developer for the former McDonald Steel property.

"Since July, I have been communicating with that company and telling them they have the responsibility of telling the residents of this community what they want to do here and bring to this village. Oppidan is a company that could be developing in this village and will hold an open forum on Sept. 15. They will talk to residents and let you ask questions," Lewis said.

He said this is the first time a company is willing to come in and explain what they may want to do in the village ahead of time. Lewis said no site plan from any company has been submitted to the village.

Council President Sean Schmidt said that council when making decisions for the future of the village has the best interest of the residents and employees in mind regardless of what people may hear elsewhere.

RESIDENT INPUT

Resident Nancy Kish reminded officials that it was the residents of the village who voted for them to serve and represent the will of the people.

She recommended that a data center issue be placed on a ballot for residents to vote on whether they want one in the village or not.

"If we put that issue on the ballot, it will be the will of the people to make the decision. Crucial decisions need to be made about data centers," Kish said.

Lewis said it would be up to the residents, not council, to get signatures to place such an issue on the ballot.

Resident Dylan Bigelow praised village council for the work they are doing to get information on data centers. He said the data center issue has placed a lot of pressure on officials to get this right.

Several residents asked council to consider a moratorium on data centers like other communities have put in place to allow for more time to look into data centers and their impact on communities. Lewis said moratoriums would be detrimental for any business wanting to come to the village.

He also said the planning commission has been working on information on data centers since there is nothing on them in the village zoning books. He said the planning commission would be the first to address data centers and then make a recommendation to council.

Resident Sue Lipkovich said she is against data centers and urged council to not give any possible data center coming to the village a tax abatement. She said it would be the residents of the village who would pay if a data center -- or any company -- were to be given a tax abatement.

Resident Elizabeth Johnson said the residents want to have input on data centers.

"It is important that we preserve our most important assets in this village, including the health and well being of the citizens. We are not asking council to walk away from any economic development for this village. We know we have limited avenues to generate revenue," Johnson said.

Johnson said the use of the former McDonald Steel property would be an important land-use decision by council.

"We need to get it right and have citizens involved in productive and intelligent dialogue. We want to be involved with the planning commission," Johnson said.

She said the brownfield needs to be cleaned up.

Resident Sandy Frazzini, who is a nurse, said she is not against economic development, but is concerned about the health and safety of residents if a data center were to be located in the village.She said there are concerns with air pollution and other health-related issues from data centers.

Resident Thomas Kunkel said he agrees the village needs economic development .

"I trust that the council is not recklessly going into this, but has the best interests of the residents," Kunkel said.