IOWA CITY

The Johnson County Board of Supervisors is likely to consider an extension of its current ban on data center applications in early October.

The board, which met with the county’s Planning and Zoning Commission for three hours July 22, is also considering an outright ban on data centers in Johnson County, pending legal review.

Two members of the public spoke out and suggested a ban of data centers in the public comment portion of the meeting, a strategy favored by Board members and Planning and Zoning commissioners.

But the July 22 meeting last Wednesday was more about diving into issues that would become part of an ordinance guiding and regulating data center development.

“As for a ban,” said Josh Busard, Director of Johnson County Planning, Development and Sustainability, “I think that is a legal question that we should consult the county attorney’s office about.”

The work session focused on water, power and size regulations for any potential data center applications that may come to the county.

Already, a large data center is being constructed just six miles north of Johnson County, in Cedar Rapids near the Eastern Iowa Airport. The Quality Technology Services (QTS) data center project will cover more than 600 acres with projected investments of $10 billion.

Linn County began an 18-month moratorium on data centers July 1, and a 12-month moratorium in Johnson County expires November 8.

“I’m hopeful we can extend the moratorium,” Supervisor Lisa Green-Douglass said.

Busard said Johnson County has not yet received any applications or requests for data center facilities.

Among the issues that the Johnson County boards did agree on during its three-hour meeting were a number of site plan requirements, special zoning districts, noise limits, waste management plans, a closed-loop water system to save on water usage, Iowa City Municipal Airport operation impacts and no economic incentives.

“The one thing these entities don’t care about is money,” Board Chair Jon Green said. “If they want to give us 100 million bucks, that would be great. But what are we giving up for that?”

“The public has a lot of great concern about this,” Green-Douglass said. “Know that we are working on it and we are hearing what you’re saying.”

While a permanent ban is being investigated, Busard said his department will keep working on an ordinance.

“This is just a first step in what is probably going to be a lengthy process,” Busard told the Board.

Jail Planning

Piper Sandler, a global financial advising firm with an Iowa office in Des Moines, was selected to assist Johnson County in the financial portions of planning for a proposed $96 million new Johnson County Jail and Sheriff’s Office.

The Board, during its July 23 formal session, approved an agreement of $141,750 with Piper Sandler by a 3-1 vote.

“They are the expert,” Board Executive Director Erin Shane said of Piper Sandler. “They work locally with many of our local school districts and our peers. That was one of the reasons we chose them. We just need an expert to help us navigate this and make sure we’re doing it transparently and correctly.”

“Johnson County has not attempted a project of this scope in decades,” Board Chair Jon Green said. “One of the things that I wish I had known going into this is, with the benefit of experience, we should have hired these folks months ago.”

Supervisor V Fixmer-Oraiz voted against the agreement.

“I do feel like this points out how we are not actually ready for such a big undertaking,” Fixmer-Oraiz said prior to the vote. “To have July 23rd of 2026 be the point at which we’re actually talking about financing for such a large project, I think, is a disservice to our public who have been asking for this information for months.”

If a bond referendum for the new jail does not pass in November’s election, Shane said, there will be no charge from Piper Sandler.

Statue Dedication

The Dr. Lulu Merle Johnson dedication ceremony, which includes the public unveiling of a statue created by Kalona’s Steve Maxon, is scheduled for 10 a.m. August 29 at a plaza in front of the Johnson County Administration Building in Iowa City.

Johnson was the first Black woman in Iowa history to earn a Ph.D.

Maxon’s statue is 7 feet tall and weighs 1,500 pounds.

Open House

The Johnson County Historic Poor Farm will host an open house from 3 to 7:30 p.m. August 8.

The event will serve as the soft launch of the HPF Kitchen, a shared-use commercial kitchen for food and farm businesses. A ribbon-cutting ceremony is scheduled for 3:45 p.m.

The event is free and open to the public.

Board Action

The Board set 5:30 p.m. August 13 as the date for the monthly evening formal session that will include public hearings for various zoning and platting applications.

The Board approved $110,000 in Social Services Hunger Relief grants, including $79,000 for CommUnity Crisis Services and Food Bank.

The Board issued a proclamation in honor of Americans with Disabilities Act Awareness Day (July 26).

Next Meeting

The next formal session is scheduled for 9 a.m. July 30.