SUBJECT:
Title
Request Approval to Schedule and Advertise a Workshop to Discuss Data Centers on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, at 2 p.m., or as Soon Thereafter, in the McPherson Governmental Campus Auditorium
Body
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INITIATOR: |
DEPARTMENT: |
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Chuck Varadin, Director |
Growth Services |
DESCRIPTION/BACKGROUND:
This is a request for a workshop with the Board of County Commissioners regarding data centers on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, at 2 p.m., or as soon thereafter as possible, in the McPherson Governmental Campus Auditorium.
Staff is requesting Board direction on how Marion County should evaluate and manage potential data center applications before receiving one, particularly in light of newly enacted state legislation (SB 484, 2026). SB 484 does not preempt local zoning authority over data centers, but it establishes mandatory requirements for utility cost allocation and consumptive water use permitting. These provisions directly affect the County’s review process, limiting or clarifying several items that might otherwise be subject to negotiation. To ensure policy alignment and consistent application of these statutory requirements, staff would like to outline the procedural considerations for future applications and seek Board guidance on the preferred approach before any data center proposal is formally submitted.
BUDGET/IMPACT:
None
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Recommended action
Motion to schedule and advertise a Board of County Commissioners workshop to discuss data centers on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, at 2 p.m. or as soon thereafter as possible in the McPherson Governmental Campus Auditorium.
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