Question:
What are your current thoughts on the proposed Data Center project?

 

Response from Steve:

Please view the following video for my thoughts on the proposed Data Center Project.

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Question:
When is the Town Hall Meeting on the Data Center?

 

Response from Steve:
The Town Hall Meeting on the proposed Data Center Project is scheduled for November 19th from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. in the Fassett Junior High School auditorium. I urge all concerned Oregon residents to attend this informational event. 

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Question:
Did you vote for the Data Center in August?

 

Response from Steve:
Thanks for the question. On August 25th, City Council approved a zoning change for 20 acres of property adjoining our existing Industrial Park located at Corduroy and Wynn Roads to Advanced Manufacturing. One of the acceptable uses under this zoning classification is a Data Center. Whether ultimately a Data Center or another use permitted under this zoning classification ends up being developed within the Industrial Park is yet to be determined. As I have previously stated, I am supportive of continued development within our Industrial Park. This process was started over 10 years ago and is in alignment with our Comprehensive Plan. In addition, considerable financial resources have been committed to the development of this Industrial Park. Development of this Industrial Park has the potential to bring much needed revenue for our city and schools in addition to construction industry jobs and new long-term employment opportunities within our city. I do not support the expansion of the Industrial Park east of Wynn Road nor will I support future growth of Industrial Areas into residential neighborhoods. My actions regarding future growth within Oregon will align with our recently updated Comprehensive Plan which will provide sound guidance in these matters. I know much concern exists within the community regarding Quality of Life impacts a Data Center brings to our community. I share those concerns and stand in support of those seeking a promised Town Hall Meeting with the developer. Unfortunately, in working with these types of developments, information shared can be very limited due to non-disclosure agreements in place. Although non-disclosure agreements are often necessary with this type of project, these agreements can cause transparency and accountability concerns. In addition, much of the information shared at this point is based on projections and estimations. Details have not yet been finalized, and legal contracts/agreements to move the project forward have yet to be executed. Also, results from a power load study being conducted by First Energy is pending. A Town Hall Meeting was suggested and agreed upon with the site developer. This meeting was to provide an open format environment for concerned residents to ask questions directly to the site developer. Unfortunately, this meeting has yet to occur. I stand in support of concerned residents seeking this meeting and remain hopeful that this event will be scheduled very soon. In the end we need both sides working together in the best interest of our community!​​​​

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Question:
What are the details of Oregon's Advanced Manufactuing Zoning Classification?

 

Response from Steve:
Thanks for the question. The Advanced Manufacturing Zoning Ordinance was passed by city council in March of 2022. The purpose written within the Ordinance.........It is the intent of the Advanced Manufacturing District to provide areas that can broaden the economic development options for the City of Oregon by creating development standards that will promote innovative development and employment opportunities for the city. The Advanced Manufacturing District promotes new and emerging industries in the development of new and better products through the use of advanced production technologies. It is leaner and cleaner with less impact. This district is intended to promote clean, advanced manufacturing, research and development opportunities, logistics and other similar businesses. I would encourage visiting the following link for complete details and business usages permitted under our Advanced Manufacturing Zoning classification, CHAPTER 1145 Advanced Manufacturing District

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Question:
Did the City of Oregon use eminent domain to force residents from their homes to acquire additional property within the Industrial Park located north of Corduroy Road?

 

Response from Steve:
Thanks for the question. First, what is Eminent Domain? Eminent Domain grants government entities the authority to seize private property for public use, provided that just compensation is given to the property owner. This power is rooted in the Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and is often used for infrastructure projects like highways, schools, or public utilities. The recent properties acquired by the City of Oregon adjoining our Industrial Park were acquired through direct voluntary negotiations with the property owners.  Eminent Domain was not used during this process, nor would I ever support any attempts to use Eminent Domain to acquire properties for further expansion of our Industrial Park.

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Question:
What is a Non-Disclosure Agreement?

Response from Steve:

Thanks for the question. Non-disclosure agreements (NDA's) are legal contracts that protect sensitive information from being disclosed to unauthorized parties. In the context of Economic Development Agreements, NDA's are used by cities to ensure that proprietary details, such as financial data, architectural plans, and strategic decisions, remain confidential. This helps maintain a competitive advantage and prevents the information from falling into the wrong hands, which could lead to competitive disadvantages or sabotage the project. The use of Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDA's) in economic development agreements at times raises concerns regarding transparency and accountability.
 

• Public Access to Information - NDA's often prevent the public from accessing critical information about economic development projects, which is essential for informed decision making.

• Community Involvement - The lack of transparency can prevent communities from providing input on projects, leading to decisions that may not reflect the interest of the local population.

• Potential for Corruption - NDA's can create a culture of secrecy that may lead to corruption and mismanagement of public funds.

• Need for Oversight - There is a strong argument for more rigorous oversight and transparency in economic development deals to ensure that taxpayers funds are used responsibly and benefit the community.
   

It's important to balance the need for confidentiality in economic development agreements with the need for public access to information and community involvement. It is crucial for local governments to carefully consider the implications of NDA's and ensure that they do not compromise the integrity and accountability of economic development projects. My goal is to reform the use of NDA's in future economic development agreements to limit protection of information only during the initial phase of projects and release information to elected officials and the public prior to any vote by council or public hearings. We need to balance the need for protection of information with the rights of elected officials and citizens. A great read on this topic can be found by visiting; Public officials reconsider NDA process amid Project Blue outrage - AZ Luminaria

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The Opportunity is NOW!

 

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