Planning & Zoning Committee - Special Meeting — Minutes

Chippewa County Planning & Zoning Committee Regular Meeting August 3, 2026 Chippewa County Courthouse, Room 302 5:00 PM 1. Call to Order 2. Roll Call 3. Members of the Public Wishing to Be Heard (Comments will be limited to 5 minutes per speaker.) None 4. Consent Agenda (Unless separation of an item is requested, all items will be adopted under one motion.) Motion to Approve Motion: Approved Result: Passed (5 - 0) Mover: Jason Bergeron Seconder: Rocky Kempe Ayes: George Rohmeyer, Jr., Joel Seidlitz, Jason Bergeron, David Kelly, Rocky Kempe Nayes: None Absent: 1. Approve the Agenda 5. Reports None 6. Public Hearing - For Discussion and Action 1. Ordinance to amend Chapter 70 of the Chippewa County Code of Ordinances to adopt a Temporary Moratorium on Data Center Development Chair Rohmeyer opened the public hearing: Carolyn Kaiser – Concerns: Limit water use, close loop holes, energy bill, limit financial cost to the taxpayer James Erickson – Concerns: 10-month is that too long for the moratorium, defining the different types of data centers Danny Akenson – Chippewa Falls resident and GROWW (GrassRoots Organizing Western Wisconsin) – Board look at impacts of data centers in regards to water, construction, property values, economic implications. Hyperscale data centers, take a look at the impacts and put protections in place. Menomonie Ordinance. Big Lie: pot of gold is not at the end of the rainbow. Transparency, assess the need for Non- disclosure Agreements (NDA), longer time like 12 months is better. Emily Bowe – in favor of moratorium Rose Fjelstad – in favor of moratorium. Ben Krambees – Eau Claire Energy Coop – We submitted written comments this AM. Russ Falkenberg – Chippewa Valley Energy Coop – read a prepared statement (on file). Discussed the electrical grid system, Pat Henke – no comment Mark Henke – proactive approach, protection of property owners. Gary Spilde – work on the facts vs. hearsay, noise reductions fans and other mitigating features. Marybeth Woodford – water and natural resources are critical to all of us, transparent, communicate the facts and continue to educate us on research and data centers. Brian Guthman – provide information to the unzoned towns for their review. Lindsay Brandt – valuable moratorium process, green spaces and industry is valuable to Chippewa County, how can we have healthy growth, how will a data center affect property values, who wants to live next to a data center, look out for the unzoned towns as well, adequate education for the community, consult other municipalities with existing data centers and existing legislation, Gail Fox – protect the natural resources, against data centers and do not want to see them in Chippewa County Karl Wise - did not speak Barb Wise – agree with the previous comments, extend the moratorium to 12 months. Michael Kramer – agree with the previous comments Vincent Beach – don’t use NDA’s, why are so many huge data centers needed, what is their purpose, noise pollution is intense, financial costs to the community, natural resources, immense electricity use by data center, Cathryn O’Connell – Noise issues, aquifer, NDA’s, tax burden, many do not want a data center in Chippewa County, Rose Mary Gilberts – Extend the moratorium Mary Landwehr – effects of a data center on the resident’s health Jeff (City of Chippewa Falls) – against data centers: they suck up all the electricity, water, and they will pollute the water Andrea Gabriel – moral implications of data centers that is being built by pillaging the intellectual property of millions without compensation, Jessica Reischel – we are in an environmental deficit Sven (Lafayette) – protect water and electrical rates, the profits should stay in Chippewa County and benefit us all, Al (unknown) – energy consumption, can change the look of the community, Kevin (farmer) – ground water draw down and how it effects the neighboring wells. Jennifer Mickey – transmission line by Thorp, highly opposed to it and the potential business’s that would built around it, water, devalue our natural resources, Chris S – our area is quiet, good water, data centers may have a life span of 10-15 years, chemicals used for cooling, quantum computing, Public Hearing was closed. 7. Business Items 1. Ordinance to amend Chapter 70 of the Chippewa County Code of Ordinances to adopt a Temporary Moratorium on Data Center Development Clary briefly reviewed the ordinance amendment, authority, exceptions, length of moratorium, process for future amendments to the zoning ordinance and comprehensive plan and process for adoption. General discussion on the moratorium: minimum threshold, zoned town comments, non-disclosure agreements and length of the moratorium. Attorney Rebecca Roeker, Attolles Law S.C. discussed the options available to the committee for the length of the moratorium. Motion to amend the 10-month timeframe for the moratorium to 12-months. Motion: Approved Result: (5 - 0) Mover: Jason Bergeron Seconder: David Kelly Ayes: George Rohmeyer, Jr., Joel Seidlitz, Jason Bergeron, David Kelly, Rocky Kempe Nayes: None Absent: Motion to approve the moratorium as amended and send it to the County Board. Motion: Approved Result: (5 - 0) Mover: Joel Seidlitz Seconder: Rocky Kempe Ayes: George Rohmeyer, Jr., Joel Seidlitz, Jason Bergeron, David Kelly, Rocky Kempe Nayes: None Absent: 8. Agenda Items for Future Consideration None 9. Adjourn Motion to Adjourn. Motion: Approved Result: Passed (5 - 0) Mover: Jason Bergeron Seconder: Joel Seidlitz Ayes: George Rohmeyer, Jr., Joel Seidlitz, Jason Bergeron, David Kelly, Rocky Kempe Nayes: None Absent: