There was no item on the Pekin City Council meeting agenda Monday concerning a proposed data center that would be built in the city, but opponents of the project once again filled the council meeting room.
Fifteen citizens spoke during a nearly hour-long public comment session. Each speaker was showered with applause after their presentation.
Many speakers were from the Tazewell County Data Center Opposition Facebook group that was created to convince city officials to reject the data center proposal. The group, created a month ago, has about 3,700 members.
"We don't want this here. Period," said Greg Hansen. "I haven't talked to one person who supports this project. You [city] don't need to do any more research. We've done it for you. Don't spend one more minute of study on it. Shut it down. The people have a voice."
Former Pekin resident Renee Thomas came to the meeting from Orlando, Fla., where she now lives.
An environmental consultant for developers for 25 years, Thomas said she was alarmed when she learned Western Hospitality Partners [WHP] wanted to spend $4.5 million to buy 321 of the 1,000-acre Lutticken Farm property in Pekin to build a data center.
The property was purchased by the city last summer for $14 million.
"I said, 'Oh, no, not Pekin,"" Thomas said. "You are prey to this predator. You should stick to your original vision for the property, which is a place for residential and retail developments."
Several Pekin residents who live close to the proposed location for the data center expressed concerns about what will happen to their quality of life and property values if the project is built.
They were joined by residents from nearby Groveland and Marquette Heights.
"I understand that I did not elect you to represent me, but this data center will affect Groveland, and its unnerving and unsettling," said Groveland resident Michael Saunders. "We love Groveland. It's a beautiful and quiet place. I hope and pray it will stay that way."
Facebook group creator Julianne McGlaughlin said because of security concerns around the world, "the A1 bubble is about to burst."
Data centers are being built to fuel the artificial intelligence explosion.
Elaine Richey suggested that the proposed data center be placed on a ballot so Pekin residents could vote on it.
City comments
Responding to the speakers, economic development director Josh Wray said the city is not exploring an alternate site for the data center proposal, and he had nothing new to report on the project.
Council member Peg Phillips praised members of the public who have joined the debate over the proposed data center.
"You're exactly the type of people we want to be involved in the city," she said.
But she asked those making personal attacks against elected officials on social media to stop doing that.
"We're your neighbors," she said.
Information sheet
Next to the entrance in the council meeting room were copies of an information sheet about the proposed data center put together by the city that included a summary and timeline for the "Pekin Technology Park."
The summary noted that "the only payment received by the city [from WHP] to date is a $50,000 deposit being held in escrow" and listed five actions that have not taken place:
- The land has not yet been sold.
- No zoning petition has been filed.
- No site plans have been submitted.
- No building permits or other approvals have been issued.
- No incentives have been approved.
WHP has until March 24 to complete its due diligence for the project, according to the information sheet, including answers to questions from the city regarding the project's impacts on energy, water, noise, light, vibration and more.
Common ground
Pekin Mayor Pro Tem Karen Hohimier, who ran the meeting in the absence of Mayor Mary Burress, who had a speaking commitment, read a statement before public comment began.
Hohimer's statement read, in part, "I believe there is more common ground here than it may feel like at times. Everyone is this room cares about protecting our community from undue risks ... Our common goal is to get this decision right."
Also, "Public input has been important because it helps ensure the right questions are being asked."
Hohimer said WHP is working on answers to the city's questions. The answers must contain "clear, enforceable responses to [the city's] concerns."
"Until we have that information, it would be irresponsible and unfair to draw conclusions," she said.
Hohimer asked during public comment that an anti-data center sign not be displayed by an audience member because it was being lifted up and down, "causing interruptions and people unable to see."
Town halls
City officials reiterated that two town halls related to the data center are planned.
The first town hall, at 6 p.m. Feb. 24 at the Pekin Public Library, will detail in general terms the city's approval/rejection process for a development.
A town hall at 7 p.m. March 24 in the F.M. Peterson Theater at Pekin Community High School will focus entirely on the proposed data center. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m.
