FESTUS聽鈥 City representatives on Monday night told residents that a tentative data center deal would bring local governments hundreds of millions of dollars and has safeguards to protect the community from higher utility bills and other unwanted side effects.
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Festus Mayor Sam Richards conducts a City Council meeting at Festus High School on Monday, March 23, 2026.
Tim Brinker, senior director of public policy for Greater 最新杏吧原创 Inc., walks away to some cheers and boos from the crowd after he made comments in support of a proposed data center during a Festus City Council meeting held in the gym at Festus High School on Monday, March 23, 2026.
Chris Ganey, right, holds a sign protesting a proposed data center outside a Festus City Council meeting held at Festus High School on Monday, March 23, 2026. Ganey said he is concerned about home values, and the lack of transparency and public votes on the project. 鈥淲hat are we going to do in 5 to 10 years when they don鈥檛 need all that data storage? We鈥檙e going to have an empty building surrounded by broken dreams,鈥 said Ganey.
Photos: Festus City Council hears public comments on data center proposal
People line up to sign recall petitions for the mayor and some City Council members after a meeting of the Festus City Council that was held at Festus High School on Monday, March 23, 2026. More than 400 people showed to express their opposition and support for the proposed data center in Festus.
Chris Ganey, right, holds a sign protesting a proposed data center outside a Festus City Council meeting held at Festus High School on Monday, March 23, 2026. Ganey said he is concerned about home values, and the lack of transparency and public votes on the project. 鈥淲hat are we going to do in 5 to 10 years when they don鈥檛 need all that data storage? We鈥檙e going to have an empty building surrounded by broken dreams,鈥 said Ganey.
A crowd of more than 400 people listen as Mary Fakes uses her five minutes of comment to speak against a proposed data center during a meeting of the Festus City Council being held in the gym at Festus High School on Monday, March 23, 2026.
More than 400 people showed up to hear public comments being made about a proposed data center in Festus meeting of the Festus City Council being held inside Festus High School on Monday, March 23, 2026.
Festus Mayor Sam Richards, center, looks for a possible motion from the members of the City Council before they open the public comments about a proposed data center during a meeting of the Festus City Council being held in the gym at Festus High School on Monday, March 23, 2026.
Michelle Watters listens as the public makes comments about a proposed data center during a meeting of the Festus City Council being held inside Festus High School on Monday, March 23, 2026. Watters says the entrance to proposed data center is 200 feet from her property.
Festus Mayor Sam Richards conducts a City Council meeting at Festus High School on Monday, March 23, 2026.
People in favor of building a data center and those opposed display their signs as the public makes comments on the proposed project during a meeting of the Festus City Council being held inside Festus High School on Monday, March 23, 2026.
A group of people supporting the construction of a data center in Festus listen as members of the public make comments on the project during a meeting of the Festus City Council being held inside Festus High School on Monday, March 23, 2026.
Sheet Metal Workers Local 36 union member Dylan Watters holds up a sign opposing a proposed data center during a meeting of the Festus City Council being held in the gym at Festus High School on Monday, March 23, 2026.聽
Tim Brinker, senior director of public policy for Greater 最新杏吧原创 Inc., walks away to some cheers and boos from the crowd after he made comments in support of a proposed data center during a Festus City Council meeting held in the gym at Festus High School on Monday, March 23, 2026.
Dee Politte holds up a sign as she listens to Festus City Council members' discussions during a work session before the start of a City Council meeting in the gym at Festus High School on Monday, March 23, 2026. Politte says she lives less than a mile away from where the data center would be built.
The Festus City Council listens to public comments on a proposed data center during a meeting in the gym at Festus High School on Monday, March 23, 2026.
Here's what you need to know about data centers in the 最新杏吧原创 area. Reporting by Bryce Gray, video by Jenna Jones.
