Granger residents voice concerns about Microsoft data center at town hall

GRANGER, Ind. (WNDU) – Granger residents packed the Harris Branch Library on Wednesday night to voice their concerns about Microsoft’s upcoming hyperscale data center project just south of the Indiana Toll Road.

Council candidate Jan Cervelli organized the town hall meeting to give the community a chance to weigh in on the controversial project.

“In my opinion, data centers should be in much less populated areas and in areas that want and embrace them, and that’s certainly not Granger at this point,” said Jamie O’Brien, a St. Joseph County council candidate.

Transparency concerns

Residents expressed frustration over a lack of transparency from county officials regarding the project’s development.

“It seems to me that things got pushed through very quickly before we even were aware of what was going to happen just three minutes from our place,” said Steve Toepp, a Granger resident.

Bill Schalliol, executive director of economic development for St. Joseph County, said…