Those who are opposed to the data center project in Warrenton had a new line of attack during last Tuesday’s Warrenton Board of Aldermen meeting, challenging several appointments proposed to the city’s Planning and Zoning and Park boards.

Resident Anna Farrar said she was at the meeting seeking greater transparency in how the city’s boards and commissions are filled and how potential conflicts of interest are addressed. Farrar specifically referenced the property where the data center is being proposed and noted that the agent of record for Hickory Ridge Family LLC, the current owner of the property, is Richard Heath, a proposed appointee to the park board. A check of the Missouri Secretary of State’s website shows that the registered agent for Hickory Ridge Family LLC is actually Dana C Heath. Mayor Eric Schleuter was asked via text whether Richard Heath is related and Schleuter responded, “No relation that I know of.” 

Farrar then referenced that the city’s vetting committee had been dissolved just days prior to the board of aldermen meeting Tuesday night.

Farrar referenced the two proposed appointments to the planning and zoning board, specifically the appointments of Damion Frederick and Stephanie Tibbetts. Farrar said Frederick has made comments online in support of industrial development projects. Farrar pointed out that Tibbetts is married to Alderman Brandon Lang and that she is a member of the Warrenton R-III School Board and attended the trip to view a data center in Altoona, Iowa. Farrar stated that her appointment raised procedural and ethical questions. First Farrar said that her participation in the data center trip may have caused Tibbetts to engage in discussions regarding Warrenton’s own data center project. Farrar asked the council to reinstate the vetting committee.

Schleuter said he didn’t have a problem with a vetting process. He noted however that only two people applied for the two open positions on planning and zoning and that the two people selected were the two people who applied. He added that the city had problems filling vacancies on city boards and commissions.

The board ultimately approved all three appointments unanimously with two of the approvals being made by a 6-0 with Tibbetts being approved 5-0 as Lang abstained from the vote.

Other individuals also spoke in opposition to the proposed data center, citing many of the same concerns as have been discussed at previous meetings.

Raymond Bergeron brought up ongoing concerns that the property in question may not have been annexed into the city properly. He also addressed potential tax incentives for the development, saying it was his understanding that the city is not going to receive tax revenues from any development for 15 years.

Cheryl Roberts also questioned the city’s annexation, reiterating that residents near the property were not properly notified of the annexation.

Pamela Moehl again asked for more information regarding a proposed data center. She also suggested that the city form a committee to look at multiple data centers and ascertain both the positives and negatives of such developments.

Schleuter mentioned that he would be open to considering a committee to study data centers.