Two Pekin City Council members said Monday they oppose the data center that's proposed to be built in the city and will vote against it.
Dave Nutter made his announcement at the end of the council meeting, when council members have an opportunity to speak on any subject.
Nutter said he arrived at his decision after listening to hours of opposition during public comment at three council meetings and absorbing all the data presented there and elsewhere.
"I didn't even know what a data center was until this started, and my brain is overloaded with all the data I've received," he said.
"Data centers are going to happen, there is no doubt about it — U.S. and international. It is not the right fit for Pekin, Illinois."
In response to Nutter's statement, council member Jake Fletcher commented, "Well said."
Fletcher later confirmed his opposition and "no" vote on the data center that is proposed to be built by New York-based Western Hospitality Partners [WHP] on 321 acres of the 1,000-acre Lutticken Farm property owned by the city. WHP would pay Pekin $4.5 million for the land.
There are seven Pekin council members, so two more "no" votes would kill the project.
No other council members have spoken publicly for or against the data center, but Peg Phillips was critical Monday of AI and social media and said she's boycotting Facebook to support communities that have been damaged by data centers.
Phillips would not commit to a "no" vote on the proposed Pekin data center when contacted later.
"I still need to listen to both sides," she said.
No 'kickbacks'
Mayor Mary Burress, City Manager John Dossey and council members spoke out against accusations made in social media posts and during public comment at council meetings that council members and city staff are taking "kickbacks" from WHP or others to approve and fast track the data center project.
"These accusations question everyone's integrity," Burress said. "This project was brought to us. It's our job to figure out whether it's right or not for our city."
Nutter said he was "somewhat offended" by the accusations.
"I will go on the record to say I have not taken one dime from WHP," he said. "You can check my tax records."
A council vote on the data center project is not imminent.
Among the steps that need to be taken first are city reviews of a rezoning petition, site plans, and WHP's responses to questions from the city regarding many of the same concerns raised by community opponents.
A town hall meeting about the data center project is scheduled for 7 p.m. March 24 in the 600-seat F.M. Peterson Theater at Pekin Community High School.
As of now, there are no plans to live stream, or have a video of the town hall.
Another full house of foes
Data center opponents from the community once again filled the council meeting room and spilled into the City Hall lobby, and 17 spoke during more than an hour of public comment.
Several audience members wore a black "No data center. Protect Pekin" T-shirt or sweatshirt, or displayed small signs opposing the data center.
Many speakers repeated concerns expressed earlier about the data center causing noise and other pollution, environmental issues, rising electric and water costs for residents, the project's impact on the area's ecosystem, and suggested better uses for the land.
Several noted how the data center opposition has brought together people from several communities that would be impacted by the facility, different political parties, and those with divergent views on social issues.
"We're polarized on just about every issue in our country," said Groveland resident Michael Saunders.
He went on to say he's a political conservative and after talking with two speakers Monday from the Workers Strike Back movement, it was obvious the three don't agree on any issue except the data center.
"This isn't an 80-20 or 90-10 thing. It's 100%. Everyone opposes this. Loud and clear," Saunders said.
A few speakers said they hadn't encountered anyone who supports the data center.
Pekin is a home rule community.
Some data center opponents have said home rule hurts efforts to stop the project, but Pekin resident Kim Bowers said being home rule actually helps because it gives the city more authority to protect the health, safety and welfare of its residents.
