A group of Jefferson County residents appeared before the Board of Supervisors on Monday, July 20th to urge stricter regulations in the county’s draft data center ordinance, raising concerns about the threshold for coverage, cryptocurrency mining, water usage, noise pollution, and the timeline for getting a moratorium in place.
The meeting came after two work sessions held on July 14th and July 17th in which supervisors, County Attorney Chauncey Moulding, and County Engineer DeWayne Heintz worked through the draft ordinance page by page. Supervisor Lee Dimmitt had previously expressed hope of having the ordinance in place by the end of August, though the timeline has possibly slipped into September.
The 20 Megawatt Threshold
One of the most prominent concerns raised by residents was the ordinance’s definition of a large-scale data center as one that uses 20 megawatts of continuous power or more. Resident Taylor Ross, who has been closely involved in the community push for the ordinance, argued that smaller facilities can cause many of the same environmental problems and should not be exempt from regulation. She noted that a 10 megawatt data center can still draw between 75 and 175 gallons of water per minute — well above what many would consider a negligible impact — and proposed that the ordinance cover any continuous draw facility using 5 megawatts or above, with an exemption for farm and food processing facilities.
Public comments were limited to three minutes per speaker. At one point, a resident donated their remaining time to Ross so she could continue speaking after her initial three minutes had expired, a reflection of how much the community has rallied around her efforts to strengthen the ordinance.
Ross also noted that approximately 800 Jefferson County residents have signed a petition calling for a moratorium on data centers and expressed concern that if the moratorium is tied to the current 20 megawatt threshold, smaller facilities could move in during that period without being covered. She asked that the moratorium last 24 months rather than the 18 months previously discussed, saying the additional time would give the county more room to get things right.
Cryptocurrency Mining
Resident Patrick Bosold urged the supervisors to ensure the ordinance explicitly covers cryptocurrency mining, which he said appeared absent from the latest draft. Several other residents echoed that concern. As previously reported by Ottumwa Radio, earlier versions of the draft ordinance did include definitions for cryptocurrency and cryptocurrency mining — though residents at Monday’s meeting indicated they wanted stronger or clearer language on that front.
Water and Noise
Several residents raised concerns about the environmental impact of data centers on local water resources and noise levels. Resident Jessie Nichols raised the issue of noise pollution, noting that the constant hum produced by data centers is harmful not just for nearby residents but also for pollinators and other wildlife. Nichols also raised concerns about aquifer depletion, noting that groundwater does not replenish quickly.
Resident Diane Rosenberg also spoke to the water issue, noting that aquifers across Iowa have declined significantly over the past century and describing groundwater as a finite resource that deserves strong protection. Rosenberg also encouraged the supervisors to schedule public hearings on the ordinance during evening hours and in the larger third floor courtroom so that more community members would be able to attend.
Setbacks and Hearing Timeline
Several residents pointed out that setback requirements, which had appeared in earlier drafts of the ordinance, were missing from the version made available Monday morning. Dimmitt acknowledged the omission and said the setback language would be restored in the next draft.
A number of residents, including Ross, Laure Reminick, and Diane Rosenberg, asked supervisors to consider waiving the additional public hearings and consolidating the process down to a single hearing in order to pass the ordinance and implement a moratorium as quickly as possible. Supervisor Susie Drish said she was interested in learning more about how Sioux County approached the issue, noting that Sioux County passed a one-year moratorium on data centers in June before a formal ordinance was even in place, according to a resident on Zoom.
Despite their calls for stronger language, several residents expressed genuine appreciation for the work the supervisors and County Attorney Moulding have put into the ordinance so far. Residents acknowledged that drafting this kind of regulatory framework is not a simple task — and that Jefferson County is doing so without the benefit of a county zoning system, meaning there were no comparable ordinances from similarly situated counties to use as a direct model. The effort to build something from the ground up, residents said, has not gone unnoticed.
No formal action was taken at Monday’s meeting. The supervisors received the public comments and are expected to revisit the draft ordinance with County Attorney Chauncey Moulding to address the concerns raised, including the megawatt threshold, cryptocurrency language, setback requirements, and other issues brought forward by residents. Additional public hearings will be scheduled once a revised draft is ready for consideration.
