The Nodaway County Commission, at its regular meeting Tuesday morning, adopted the data center moratorium that had been proposed without changes from the draft version distributed to members of the public. The vote was unanimous. The period will be for six months and can be terminated early by the Commission or extended for another six months. The measure applies to construction and does not affect permitting or surveying.
Last week, an attorney for Scale Microgrids, who is developing the proposed data center, Allee Armitage, attended the meeting, which blindsided the participants. Donna Tompkins, who was speaking for Susie Schafer, who could not be at the meeting, said that Ms. Schafer was disappointed that Ms. Armitage was not identified last week, and if she had known who it was, she would have invited her over for coffee and shown her around the place. This week, Spencer Culver, another attorney for Scale, attended the meeting. “My purpose is to see what is going on and listen to peoples’ concerns,” said Mr. Culver.
Nodaway County Commission meetings are open to the public, except for closed sessions that are specifically permitted by law. “We did not know who she was until she introduced herself,” said Commissioner Scott Walk. “We wanted to share our concerns, and we didn’t get to do that,” said Tim Schafer. Attendees are required to sign in, list who they are working for, and if they plan to speak along with their contact info.
Mike Wilson said that the company was already attracted to the area, so that there was no point in issuing Chapter 100 bonds, given that its purpose is to attract new businesses.
Mr. Schafer said that people didn’t have to take their word for it regarding their concerns about data centers. “Go up to Council Bluffs and see a real big one for yourselves,” he said.
Holly Caviness said that she thought a six-month moratorium was inadequate and that the companies working with Scale Microgrids needed to be vetted for their past projects. She noted that six months was not enough time to implement zoning.
Asked a question about sound, commissioners said that the sound study Scale is doing would apply both to the generator as well as the facility itself.
Jeff From told the commissioners they might find it will take more than six months to get the answers they are looking for. He called for independent research. Commissioner Walk said that the studies the company does have to hold up in court like anything else. “If they do a study, and it doesn’t turn out the way they say it is going to, they can be held liable in court like anything else,” said Mr. Walk. “It’s their reputation that’s on the line.”
Commissioner Walk said they were doing the best they could. “We’re still looking for an economic development specialist and a tech specialist with experience with data centers to walk us through these things,” said Mr. Walk.
Mike Wilson said that the 70,000 per day being quoted is the minimum and that the daily usage for a data center would be more like 500,000 gallons per day for water usage. “In August and September when the water is really low, we’re not going to have enough water in Bolckow,” said Mr. Wilson. “And once Evergy’s plant is up and running, what about our air quality,” added Donna Tompkins. She noted that the air quality index in the area was already borderline.
Kim Swyers said that the focus on studies misses the fact that low-frequency sound emissions can’t be monitored. “These affect livestock,” she said. She said it would cause neurological and cardiovascular problems in humans and lead to more erosion and flooding. “And if the lithium that’s there ever catches fire, our fire departments can’t put it out.”
In addition, Ms. Swyers said there would be traffic problems at the site during construction with trucks constantly coming in and out. “And they’re going to drill for water if they have to,” she said.
Holly Caviness said that this was a bubble that was going to burst. “What happens if we take up Chapter 100 and they don’t hold up their end of the bargain,” she asked.
On Tuesday, Business Insider reported that Intel is planning layoffs within its data center group. They attributed the story to the Oregonian. The company has laid off at least 15% of its factory workers, or 5,000 employees, across four US states during recent years. In addition, Intel announced more than 15,000 job cuts as part of an effort to achieve $10 billion in cost savings in 2025. Business Insider also reported that Amazon has cut 14,000 jobs amid what it said was AI restructuring. In December 2025, Chubb cut up to 20% of its workforce in favor of AI, multiple news outlets reported at the time.
And unlike some other projects, the end user for the proposed data center south of Maryville is unknown at this time. Even Spencer Culver, the attorney for Scale, said he didn’t know who the end user for the facility was going to be.
At the end of the discussion, the commissioners voted to adopt the moratorium. “I feel that there are a lot of questions about this project that we have a right to have answered,” said Commissioner Scott Walk.
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