A joint planning session held April 1 at the Harmony Community Center brought together members of the Harmony City Council, Harmony Economic Development Authority (EDA), and the Planning and Zoning Commission and members of the community for a collaborative discussion about the city’s future, particularly in relation to a proposed data center project.
Mayor Steve Donney called the meeting to order at 6 p.m., setting the stage for an evening centered on community input and shared vision. Serving as a third-party facilitator, Katrina Hurley explained that her role is to guide the city through the process of drafting a data center ordinance. She noted that they have already established key definitions and outlined what they do not want to see in Harmony.
“Tonight, we have made it to the ‘fun part,’” Hurley said. “We are going to be talking about what we would like to see if the project is brought to Harmony. Tonight is really about your voice, what you expect, what you value, and what you want.”
Hurley stressed that no decisions will be made during this session, as it is strictly for planning.
The format for the meeting was roundtable discussions designed to encourage active participation from community members. Each group included a board member serving as facilitator, helping guide the conversation, while a designated note taker kept a written record of the discussion which will be transcribed.
Participants rotated through discussions focused on six core topics: community relationship and trust; community benefits and local investment; community experience and quality of life; communication and transparency; complaint response and accountability; and long-term commitment and community protection.
One issue that surfaced repeatedly was childcare. Community member Benya Kraus highlighted the importance of supporting young families as a foundation for long-term growth.
Kraus asked what a company in good faith looks like working in a community. She wants to see them invest in the long term and thinks that one of the biggest growth factors for communities is whether young families move here and a huge part of that is childcare.
Infrastructure was another major focus of the evening. Participants discussed the potential strain that new development could place on city services, including roads, utilities, and emergency response systems. Input was gathered on what the city should request from developers, including support for the fire department, EMS and ambulance services, and non-profit organizations like the Harmony Area Community Foundation.
There was also a lot of discussion regarding education, with suggestions including scholarships.
Residents also voiced concerns about rising electric rates. Walker Ward noted that electric rates continue to rise and asked if there were ways to keep local rates stable. Council member Jesse Grabau confirmed that the city will not be providing electricity to the data center; that will be handled by MiEnergy.
The overarching goal remained: “Keep Harmony affordable.”
Local business owner Aaron Bishop suggested another perspective: “What would be the impact on Harmony if we lost our daycare, grocery store, EMS, or one of our large businesses?”
Ideas for enhancing quality of life were also discussed. Realtor Roxanne Johnson mentioned an accessible park which would be expensive to build but would be an asset for community members and visitors alike.
Following the breakout sessions, all participants reconvened to report on key themes. Several common themes emerged across the groups, including infrastructure, education and scholarships, childcare, emergency services, electric rates, and environmental considerations. Support for the Harmony Area Community Foundation was also identified as a priority.
Communication and transparency were highlighted as essential components of any future partnership. Participants recommended establishing clear points of contact within both the city and the data center to avoid confusion and ensure accountability.
The next meeting is scheduled for April 15. That will be the final joint planning meeting before the matter is brought to the Planning and Zoning Commission for a vote.
Before adjourning at 7:42 p.m., Hurley noted that there was a conversation regarding an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). She said that there is not a single data center that has completed an EIS in the United States. Currently, New York is the only one that has filed for an EIS. She also confirmed that the data center would not be able to use water for cooling.
alicia kiehne johnson says
From this article, it seems there is little opposition to the data center. I wish there were more community discussion and research around the potential impacts a data center can have on a small town like Harmony. I’ve always hoped to return to my hometown to retire, but with recent developments such as the approval of Dollar General and now the data center, I’m feeling discouraged about the direction the community is taking and may need to consider other options.
I also have questions about the statement at the end of the article that says, “She also confirmed that the data center would not be able to use water for cooling.” I would strongly encourage the community to ensure this restriction is clearly and explicitly written into the final contract, with no ambiguity. Given the extensive legal resources many data center corporations have, it’s important to protect Harmony’s water resources by making certain there are firm, enforceable provisions that prevent any future use of water from Harmony’s aquifers.