MARC JACOBS
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Hutchinson and Reno County residents will have an opportunity to share their views about data center development during a community forum Tuesday, Sept. 8.
The event begins at 5:30 p.m. at the Shears Technology Center at Hutchinson Community College. Organizers say the forum is intended to give residents a voice before local officials make long-term decisions affecting data center development.
Hutchinson City Council member Stacy Goss will discuss planning and zoning measures the city could use to protect the community. State Sen. Mike Murphy will address Senate Bill 98, which established Kansas tax incentives for qualifying data centers.
Jason Probst will also provide an overview of best practices identified by the Bipartisan Policy Center for communities considering data center projects.
The forum will include live, anonymous polling about residents’ concerns, priorities and values. Results will be displayed on a screen in real time and discussed before the event concludes.
Organizers said the meeting will not feature a traditional open-microphone format. Discussion will be limited to keep the event focused and prevent the confrontational exchanges that have occurred during data center debates in other communities.
Participants will also be able to use an online tool to submit specific questions, concerns and ideas. Responses from the online tool and live polling will be provided to local policymakers, including members of the Hutchinson City Council.
The forum comes as Hutchinson and Reno County officials consider how data centers should be regulated locally amid concerns involving water use, noise, energy demand and effects on surrounding properties.