Complaints about the way the City has handled Clinton’s data center project were a common theme during a public hearing March 16. But mixed in with those concerns were statements of strong support for the project, which Mayor Will Purdie said would generate $2 million dollars for the City in the first year through a fee in lieu of taxes (FILOT) agreement, while the Clinton Public Schools would receive $3 million.
Purdie and the Board of Aldermen heard from sixteen speakers during the hearing, which was held during a Board work session. Several of those who raised concerns about the data center accused the City of being too secretive, and one speaker said it felt like local residents “have been left in the dark.”
Jill Hiers said, “It’s unfortunate that we found out about this data center from the media and not through the people that we’ve elected to represent us.”…