Jackson County establishes "evaluation period" on data center devlopment

BLACK RIVER FALLS - The Jackson County Board voted unanimously (with two members absent) to pass a resolution establishing a data center evaluation period of 180 days at its Aug. 22 meeting at the county government center.

Instead of a moratorium, this motion will have various county committees study the data center question for the county specifically in areas that these committees are responsible for. Such committees would include: Zoning and Land Information, Forestry, Parks and Land Conservation Committee. Highway Committee, the County Administrator, Zoning Department, and Corporation Counsel. The resolution also directs county staff to review actions taken by other Wisconsin counties and municipalities regarding data center development all the while continue processing all applications in accordance with existing ordinances. Indeed, the resolution specifically states that this is not a "development moratorium or prohibiting the submission, acceptance, or processing of any application otherwise".

The initial resolution was amended to add the Industrial Development Committee to initial review list. An attempt was made to table the resolution to look at adding more county government agencies and committees in review of data centers but this was defeated by a 10-7 vote. The amended resolution eventually passed unanimously.

The Board also approved a resolution to enter into a public-private partnership agreement with Pierce-Pepin Cooperative Services of Ellsworth to expand access and services to underserved and unserved areas of the Jackson County by applying for a state of Wisconsin FY 2026 Broadband Expansion Grant. They also voted unanimously to authorize the use of $1,000.00 in Ho-Chunk Tribal funds as Jackson County's local
match for participation in the 7 Rivers Business Park initiative; voted unanimously to set the Law Enforcement and Emergency Management Committee to serve as the designated county Grievance Committee, voted 12-5 in favor of setting policies for virtual attendance for members at committee and board meetings; voted unanimously in favor of amending the county records retention program and adopt state records board schedule for Jackson County; voted 17-0 to approve the sale of the Bug Tussel materials and voted unanimously to re-zone 39.5 acres from the A2 (Forestry and Limited Agriculture) District to the R2 (Residential-Private Water & Septic System) District in the Town of Cleveland.