(Estherville)--The Estherville City Council Monday evening set their next meeting on November 16th as the date and time for a public hearing on a proposed amendment to the zoning code regarding the creation of a Data Center Overlay District. The amendment sets the maximum capacity for a Data Center at 25 megawatts. It also places limitations on environmental impacts, noise, water and electrical consumption. The vote was 6 to 1 with council member David Hovinga casting the dissenting vote. Hovinga says his biggest concern is with the noise and low frequency levels produced by data centers.
Hovinga says there are serious health risks associated with the low frequencies produced by data centers.
Council member Gary Myers said there are measures that can be taken to reduce noise levels.
City officials say there are two companies interested in building a data center on the south edge of Estherville including Path One which made a presentation to the council next month. Mayor Tony Condon says the ordinance can be sent back to the Planning and Zoning Commission with recommended changes to address concerns raised by the public.
In other business, the council will also heard a presentation from Foth Engineering and the Iowa DOT on the Highway 9 reconstruction project through Estherville. Bid letting for the project is scheduled for October 2027. The project would be done in four stages from 2028 through 2031.
