Salix City Council approves Google data center study agreement in 3-2 vote

SALIX, Iowa (KTIV) – The Salix City Council approved a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Google for its proposed data center at Wednesday night’s meeting in a 3-2 vote.

City leaders stress the MOU is not an approval of the data center.

“I think that gets lost sometimes, thinking that this data center is rubber stamped or it’s definitely going to happen, and that’s not the case,” said Mayor Kevin Nelson. “The Salix City Council has the ultimate decision on whether or not to allow it be changed from agricultural to industrial to allow a data center to happen.”

The MOU sets up a process for the city to study Google’s proposal, hire experts and decide what protections or rules may be necessary.

Under the agreement:

• The City of Salix will choose and hire independent experts to assist in the review, research and assessment of the data center review process.
• The city can bill those costs to Google.
• The MOU is for $150,000 for up to three months.
• Google does not receive a…