Bob Foos
Mayor Lynn Ragsdale began the regular City Council meeting on Monday with an open discussion about data centers.
Gina Monson (2nd Ward) initially raised awareness of the issue when she learned that a firm that owns property in the Joplin/Webb City Industrial Park has reportedly inquired with Joplin city staff about possibly rezoning the property for use as a data center.
The 2.85-acre tract in question is on the west side of Industrial Park Road, two lots north of Kennedy Lane. According to Beacon, it is owned by AIDataCenter Inc., of Hollywood, Fla.
Discussion topics included harmful effects of data centers, including excessive noise.
City Administrator Carl Francis said he has recently researched ways other cities have adopted methods of regulating data centers. He said he knows of five Missouri cities that have regulations in place.
At the end of discussion, the council approved an ordinance authorizing Ragsdale to hire a sound acoustics engineer, if complaints of noise or vibrations are brought to the council.
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Also on Monday, the council approved Ragsdale’s appointment of Tyler Burgess (1st Ward) to succeed Jerry Fisher (3rd Ward) on the Centennial Railroad Transportation Development District. Burgess will begin a new three-year term.
Fisher has attempted to resign from his city council seat for medical reasons, but his resignation letter was refused by the mayor and council. He continues to attend council meetings by phone from his home.
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A Planning and Zoning Commission meeting that had been rescheduled for Monday, Nov. 10, has now been canceled.
The request on the agenda was for permission to use the north side of the White Oak Station at 2587 N. Range Line Road as a bus stop.
It has since been learned that the property has a new owner, which will require a new application.
The original owner was Navroz Ali, of Overland Park, Kan. The new owner is Hisham Alqammaz.
