It all leads to this: Hermantown council to vote on Google data center agreements Monday night

HERMANTOWN, Minn. (Northern News Now) - Hermantown city leaders are set to vote Monday night on a series of agreements that could clear the way for Google to build a data center in the city, one day before a court hearing involving allegations that the city violated notice requirements.

Six resolutions up for vote

Six resolutions regarding the data center project are up for a vote at Monday night’s meeting. The city is calling it a “focused meeting,” meaning only resolutions related to the data center are on the agenda.

Those resolutions include the data center’s special use permit, final plat and development agreement, along with a resolution that would reject a citizen’s petition asking the city to submit an environmental assessment worksheet for the project.

The city says it is rejecting the petition because it was received days after the city approved the environmental review for the data center.

Another resolution would approve a decommissioning agreement with Google, which lays out a plan to repurpose the data center site or clear it if it goes unused.

Contempt motion, court hearing set for Tuesday

The Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy and Stop Hermantown Data Center have filed a motion for contempt alleging the city failed to comply with a court-ordered agreement governing public notice for permitting. A hearing on that motion is scheduled for Oct. 27.

Opponents of the project said the timing gives residents, city council members and the city attorney only four full days to review documents that could commit the city to a long-term project.

They also questioned whether Harmony Group LLC, the applicant for the special use permit, controls all of the land included in the permit request. Opponents said a significant portion of that land is subject to separate litigation in federal district court.

City council approval of the agreements would allow the proposed data center to move closer to construction. Project opponents argue the council should allow more time for review before taking action, citing what they describe as potentially irreversible consequences for the city.

Protesters cite secrecy, environmental concerns

Protesters have gathered outside City Hall numerous times since the data center was first proposed. Many expressed concern over what they described as secrecy from the city, along with environmental concerns they believe have not been addressed.

Because Monday night’s meeting is a focused meeting, there is no consent agenda or general public comment period at the end. Public comment will still be allowed for each resolution before its vote.

If the data center permitting is approved tonight, Google still needs permits from other agencies before construction can begin. The company anticipates construction will start next year.

The meeting is scheduled to begin at Hermantown City Hall at 6:30 p.m.

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