Data Center Meeting Draws Crowd, Reveals Disconnect Between Mayor and Aldermen 

By Pauline Masson – 

A crowd of over 200 packed the Pacific Government Center council chamber and lobby for the 10:30 a.m. Jan. 7 weekday/workday meeting to discuss a proposed data center on the Phelan Road farm owned and operated by Bill and Linda McLaren.

In a last minute change, Beltline Energy, project developer was added to the meeting agenda to explain the data center they want to build on the 500-acre farm, which is currently outside the city limits. If the BOA approves the data center, the property would voluntarily annex into the city. 

Any development plans would have to go before the planning and zoning commission for public hearings and public comment.

Protestors waited over an hour to offer their comments on the project after the BOA signaled their discontent on the city’s handling of information on the proposed center by voting to approve alderman Debbie Kelley’s motion to remove the closed meeting item on the agenda, assuring that they would not go behind closed door for any portion of the meeting. 

Aldermen also approved Ms. Kelley’s motion that everyone who signed a speaker card would be heard. And following a motion by Aldermen Scott Lesh they voted that to add an agenda item that aldermen would speak to the public after all members of the public had spoken.

The mayor offered a stern warning to the would-be speakers.

“If anyone gets out of line, you will be asked to leave. If you do not leave willingly, you will be escorted out by our police department,” she said.

Property Owner Bill McLaren spoke first, highlighting his family’s long standing in the community.  His mother Edith Howe taught school here for 39 years and his great uncle John Howe, famed daffodil man and horticulturist had been regaled in local literature

“My family is as deep here as anybody else’s family,” he said.

He said the unique use of gray water that the data center plans to use would be a significant environmental improvement for the ecosystem. 

“And probably more importantly, or as importantly, this should be a financial win for the citizens and the city,” he said. “I hope the benefits outweigh the issues.” 

Ryan Sanders, Beltline Energy presented an all over the place description with details and promises on the data center his firm wants to build on the McLaren farm.

With an overhead display showing the Meramec Valley Technology Park, Mr.Sanders offered details of a complex of sixteen buildings.

His appeared to address concerns voiced by aldermen that they had been left out of meetings relating to the data center and concerns of residents that the city had been working on plans the center for months.

“We did not want all of the group to learn about this project.” He said. “We worked with your planning staff, city manager, manager of the public works department. 

“At the same time the city staff was vetting us, to see if our project was a good fit for your community – months of work, back and forth – we’ve gotten to a place where we feel like we have the zoning application that’s been submitted as a quality project to the benefit of this community.”

“It’s 500 acres just to the south of the city, Pacific” he said.

“We’re going to put on 200 megawatts of low generation large load every year for six years. During the construction phase, our project will create 1,000 jobs a year,” he said. “And once we’re fully operational, working 360 to 500 full-time jobs at the facility. Each building hires or employs between 30 to 40 people. And those jobs average $120,000 a year. So it’s a big, big moment.”

He said the Pacific water treatment facility was facing a $15 million upgrade that’s needed.  

“Our plan is predicated on us making the investment in the Pacific wastewater treatment facility. That would cover the cost of your plan and upgrade,”he said.

We reached out to the city of the Pacific’s consultants (Cochran Engineering). We didn’t know they were engaged with you guys. And we started talking about water solutions.

The city public address system level was so low many in the audience could not hear the presentation but the meeting was recorded on the City’s Facebook page and can be viewed in full.

Public Comments 

Of the speakers only one person spoke in favor of the data center. The other 19 opposed it. Protestors covered a wide array of concerns, from air, water and noise pollution to utility costs, property values and quality of life.

David Gullet said he saw the presentation as “snake oil salesmanship at its finest.”

 “What they’re trying to do essentially is throw about 100 darts at a dartboard, hoping some will stick,” he said “They’re going to put such a burden on this community, environmentally and financially, that people won’t be able to leave. Home values will plummet.”

 Eugene Vale said he worried that the development would impact the Meramec River. 

“I’m concerned about the river,” he said. “High temperature water will be discharged to the Meramec, and what effect would that have on the ecosystem there?”

Dale Ketcherside, whose home is about 500 feet from the property and can hear McLaren’s “lovely cows as if they were in his backyard,” called for more detail.

“I don’t fully understand the potential upside for this community,” he said “That needs to be discussed and proposed to us.”

Zach Green, said he can now go on daily walks and is allowed to pick persimmons from a neighbor’s tree.

“Why do we have to go to these untouched, beautiful rural lands to build these facilities when there are dilapidated industries all across this country.”

Megan Hefferlin said she wanted to consider the environmental impact of data centers that create a constant low frequency hum, often measured around 50 decibels.

“These zoning decisions are about protecting public health, safety, and the welfare,” she said. “The burden is on the applicant to prove that this use is compatible with Franklin County.”

Dean Boland noted that Beltline is an LLC with three people as of 2024.

“You guys have been working on this for months and then there are still questions,” he said.”There’s a lot of things that are still not worked out. I guess for lack of a better way to say it and what we’re hearing is ‘trust us.’”

Mr. Boland also had worries about sound from data centers. He researched one in
West Haven, Connecticut where the news this week reported that residents were complaining about a low frequency hum of 48 decibels.

Michelle Burns, a candidate for the Ward One BOA seat said she wanted to ask: when the city signed the nondisclosure agreement and, who on this board signed it? 

“It’s very curious how long it’s been going on,” she said.

Sharon LaFarth, a Catawissa resident who moved out there from St. Louis County because it was peaceful, beautiful and quiet, said she worried about what’s hidden and wanted to see for herself.

“Where is the closest operating facility, folks. And can we citizens go visit it so we know how to advise you, our representatives? Can we talk to the neighbors at that facility”

Sherman Smith, a 45 year resident whose 25-year career was in IT, worried that Beltline will not operate the data center it seeks to build

“We don’t even know who the tenant is.”

Josh Gerrels, an electric, mechanical engineer worried about risk of high power generation at data centers.

“I want to highlight the risks of increased ultra-magnetic radiation on the Earth. This is very low frequency. Electromagnetic fields and servers, transformers, and high-voltage power lines.”

He presented to the BOA a six-page written testimony on the effects of EMF and EMR.

Dick Browning, the only speaker who was in favor of the project said data centers are the technology of the future.

“I don’t understand why they’re rejecting true data centers. That’s technology that’s the advancing in society. I see all these people have cell phones. That’s technology that’s up to date. And we’ve done it where we could make your future technology high paying jobs that will bring high technical people to this area. Better power and better internet.”

Jim Steitz, went beyond the data center and spoke on the artificial intelligence (AI) they support.

“AI provides fake videos and pictures so that actual artists and creators lose their jobs, clog our streaming music so that actual musicians lose their jobs,

help students cheat on their homework so they don’t learn anything and help men acquire fake girlfriends.”

“Is this right? Is this wrong? I ask you to bear this question in the back of your minds when you hear, for example, such as that at the beginning of this meeting.”

Michael Hayden Jr. delivered a petition with 221 signatures to the city clerk.

Scott Matthews, who found out about the data center when an anonymous letter on July 19 was stuck in their mailbox, complimented aldermen for listening to citizens.

“I appreciate all of you voting no for a closed door meeting in this. That’s the type of leadership we’d like to get out of this community. Keeping this open and transparent from the beginning and moving forward, is our greatest wish and hope.

Meeting adjourned at 1:20 p.m.

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This meeting was recorded and can be viewed on the City’s Facebook page.