To the editor:

On Wednesday, Aug. 5, the Leavenworth County Commission made a decision that every resident of the Tonganoxie area should know about.

The Commission voted not to extend the moratorium on the proposed Bluestem hyperscale data center.

Commissioners Culbertson, Dove, and Reid voted NO.

Commissioners Stieben and Smith voted YES.

That vote raises a very important question: Why are three commissioners willing to allow this process to move forward when the rules being proposed are not strong enough to adequately protect the people who will have to live with this project?

A moratorium is not a rejection of the data center. It is a responsible pause that would give the County time to review, strengthen, and rewrite the weak rules and regulations currently being proposed.

We are talking about a massive industrial facility with potentially enormous demands for electricity and water, gas-fired turbines, significant noise, including tonal noise, air emissions, cooling systems, emergency operations, roads and traffic, and other impacts that could affect surrounding residents and property owners.

These issues deserve answers before approval, not after.

Once the project is approved, citizens may find themselves trying to fix problems that should have been addressed before construction ever began.

Commissioners Culbertson, Dove, and Reid had an opportunity to say, “Let’s slow this down and make sure our residents are protected.” They chose not to.

Residents should remember that decision.

This is not about being against economic development. It is about asking our elected officials to put the health, safety, property rights, and quality of life of Leavenworth County residents ahead of the rush to approve a massive development project.

The Planning and Zoning Commission will meet at 5:30 Wednesday, August 12 at the Courthouse to consider a final draft of Rules and Regulations for a Data center. If the proposed rules are strong enough, then there should be no fear of taking the time to examine them. If they are not strong enough, then we have an obligation to fix them.

The County Commission should have extended the moratorium.

It still has an opportunity to listen to its citizens and take meaningful action to protect this community.

Now it is up to us as citizens to remain informed, speak out, and hold our elected officials accountable for the decisions they make.

Please join us at 3 p.m. Sunday at Ellie B’s (the former Casey’s) for an update on the Data Center.

We will discuss the Commission’s decision, the proposed rules and regulations, what protections are missing, and what citizens can do next.

Three commissioners voted against extending the moratorium. Now the citizens need to make sure their voices are heard.

Our community. Our property. Our future. Our voice must matter.

Jim Karleskint,

Member of Citizens Against Bluestem