The Innsbrook Board of Trustees had significant discussion regarding several appointments to the village’s board of adjustment during its meeting Thursday, May 21 including two proposed nominees failing to pass. The issue of data centers was also brought up by a former trustee and one of the aldermen during the meeting Thursday.
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The Innsbrook Board of Trustees had significant discussion regarding several appointments to the village’s board of adjustment during its meeting Thursday, May 21 including two proposed nominees failing to pass. The issue of data centers was also brought up by a former trustee and one of the aldermen during the meeting Thursday.
The board considered four candidates for three appointments to the board of adjustment. The first two, Cheri Joyce and Mike Wally, were appointed on a 4-0 vote, with trustee Alice Jensen not being present. Board Chair Mike Caton then nominated Joe Federer for the final spot. At that point, former board chair Cindy Bowers spoke up saying that she also had put in for a spot on the board of adjustment and felt that the board should discuss the matter before voting. Trustee Donna West asked what the procedure was for nomination to the board of adjustments and whether the board should discuss all candidates. Attorney Bradley Pryor said that the decision on who to nominate to the board falls to the board chair.
Caton then asked for a motion to appoint Federer, however the motion failed with all four trustees voting no. Caton then asked for a motion to appoint Bowers to the position, however the motion failed 2-2, with trustees Virgal Woolfolk and West voting yes and trustees Linda Buschman and Caton voting no, leaving the final position still vacant.
During the meeting Bowers spoke during the public comment portion and brought up three issues. One of those issues was why a presentation regarding data centers was canceled from the May 21 meeting. Originally the board had scheduled Greater Warren County Economic Development Economic Development Council consultant Steve Etcher to speak regarding data centers, but that item was not on the agenda. Bowers voiced concerns about why his presentation was canceled and asked the board when and at what type of meeting a discussion regarding data centers would be had as she felt it was very important to the community that the public hear from a data center expert.
Woolfolk said that the board needs to have a meeting about data centers. He said that from his experience in California is that communities like Innsbrook are affected indirectly by data center. He said it results in electric rate increases. It also affects public service requirements such as police, fire and ambulance services.
“We really need to have a discussion on this (data centers),” Woolfolk said. “We really need to have some people in here and discuss and address this issue.”
One of the other issues brought up by Bowers during her public comment was asking the board to confirm that there will be a public hearing on the village’s budget on June 8. Following the meeting, the board did release an agenda setting a budget meeting for June 8 at 5 p.m.
The board also voted unanimously to appoint Jerry Ritsema and Barb Rietz to the village’s planning and zoning board.
