At least two cities in Oklahoma dealing with the controversial requests of data center developers have been forced to make tough decisions confronting them….whether to pay for trips by city leaders to visit data centers around the U.S.
As KFOR TV reported this week, the city council in Luther faced a decision whether to accept developer Beltline Holdings’ offer to visit and tour one of its data centers in Atlanta, Georgia. Beltline has been attempting for the past year or more to win support for a new data center in Luther.
City residents voiced their objection to spending city funds to send city representatives to the Beltline facility and the city council voted against making the trip.
Then this week, the city of Piedmont faced the same controversial issue since Beltline has also revealed plans for a possible data center in the city. But Piedmont city leaders ignored the pleas of residents who were critical of the trip, and voted to expend city funds for the data center visit.
Mayor Kurt Mayabb urged support for the trip.
“I would personally like to have more information so we can put more ordinances and resolutions together before they submit anything else.”
He also suggested the city of Luther made the wrong choice.
“I think they’re messing up by not sending somebody. This is pennies. This is pennies to have somebody put eyes on something that they’re wanting to build.”
The vote means Piedmont will send two city staff members and a member of the city council on the trip.