The St. James City Council unanimously voted at an Aug. 10 meeting in favor of an ordinance that amends the municipal code to outlaw the construction of data centers within the city limits.

Last month the St. James Planning and Zoning Commission voted to recommend the ordinance to the City Council at a packed public hearing on July 30, during which dozens of St. James residents attended to encourage the planning and zoning commission to recommend the ordinance. The planning and zoning commission did so unanimously.

Ward 2 Councilman Bill Dunkus made a motion to pass the ordinance, which was seconded by Ward 4 Councilwoman Marcie Wilson. Councilmembers David Bond, Tyler Wagnon, Mark Gray, Margaret Roberts, Ryan Miller and Steve Hutchcraft all voted in favor of passing the ordinance.

“I went to the last (planning and zoning) meeting. There were more people at the last planning and zoning meeting than has been in the almost eight years I’ve been mayor all combined,” said Mayor Rick Krawiecki. “So overwhelming, no, we don’t want them.”

Typically, city councils conduct a first reading of proposed ordinances at a council meeting, then a second reading and vote at a following meeting. However, due to the intense public concern surrounding data centers, the city council conducted a first and second reading, and voted on the ordinance at the Aug. 10 meeting.

“We want to get this taken care of and put behind us,” said Krawiecki.

While the city council meeting was less well-attended than the planning and zoning meeting last month, some St. James residents addressed the city council about their concerns regarding data centers. St. James resident Linda Bird urged the council to consider the impact of data centers on the environment and on the quality of life for people who live near data centers.

“You have the ability tonight to make a decision that could protect the citizens of St. James and potentially future generations,” said Bird. “(Data centers) use copious numbers of generators. It’s a continual loud hum, and it’s disruptive to people’s normal lives, and to birds and to bees, and I don’t think something like that belongs in St. James.” Bird added that she was concerned that a potential data center would increase the cost of electricity for residents of St. James.

With the decision by the St. James City Council, Chapter 405 of the City Code was officially amended to ban the use of land within the city limits for data centers. However, areas of Phelps County outside the St. James city limits are unaffected by the ordinance and continue remain unregulated. The body responsible for regulating planning and zoning in Phelps County is the Phelps County Commission.