Salix in northwest Iowa postponed its city council meeting tonight because of safety concerns following threats made on social media.
The city council was expected to vote on a one-year moratorium on data centers. Salix Mayor Kevin Nelson says the community remains divided over a potential data center, but this should not happen. “Be civil towards each other and not break the law and threaten public officials. It seems like such a very basic thing to have to say. I shouldn’t even have to say it, but now that’s where we’re at,” he says.
Nelson says the Woodbury County Sheriff’s Department is investigating the threats. “It called for various death and terroristic type things towards the entire government of Salix, which is very, very concerning,” he says. He says officials also received death threats in May after Salix annexed about 900 acres of farmland for the project.
Nelson says he expected to hear from both sides at the meeting. “So, it’s gonna be a contentious meeting no matter what because of the moratorium vote and now it’s just being pushed back to a later date because of these threats,” he says. Nelson says nothing is decided yet. “We’re still months, if not years, away from a data center being built. It’s very, very early in the process. If the council votes for a moratorium, then of course nothing can happen,” Nelson says.
Google recently confirmed it’s evaluating the site for a possible data center.
(By Sheila Brummer, Iowa Public Radio)