To the Editor,
At Harmony’s recent public hearing regarding the proposed data center ordinance, residents did what we ask citizens to do in a democracy. They researched, prepared thoughtful remarks, showed up, and treated others, including the Planning & Zoning commissioners, with respect. For more than an hour, residents stood up to share their thoughts. Wanda Hanson, a reporter for The Fillmore County Journal, summarized the evening for the November 2, 2026, edition. As informative as the article was, it didn’t tell the entire story. As reported, after the public comment period, the Commission held a discussion. The article didn’t explain how brief that discussion was. Two of the five commissioners didn’t speak at all. Many of us left the room muttering, “That’s all?”
Understandably, people may disagree about the outcome. That’s not our point. Our concern is that many people felt unheard. Whether that perception is fair or not, it matters. Public hearings should be more than a formality to sit through. The community’s concerns should inform the Commission’s discussion and vote. Engagement creates buy-in, while feeling unheard reduces public trust.
Perhaps the larger question is not whether Harmony should build a data center. It’s how we want our community to operate and be perceived. Harmony is more than our town’s name. It suggests harmony among neighbors, between government and citizens, and with the landscape we share. Those ideals deserve time, attention and genuine conversation before we make decisions that shape our community for future generations.
Mary Sack
Harmony, Minn.
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