Parsons area residents will have two opportunities to voice their opinions regarding the City’s purchase of land for a proposed micro-data center.

 

The Parsons City Commission is expected to consider a contract for an option to purchase of 20 acres of land in the Tolan Creek Industrial Park at its July 6th meeting. The Texas-based company HyperDatagrid is proposing to develop the property for the new facility. If approved by the commission, the purchase option agreement would be active for six months, with the option to extend the deal for an additional six months. During that time, a development team would study utility availability, review land use, and perform survey work.

 

One of the major issues of concern is water usage. The commission is considering two proposals: The first has a very minimum amount of water usage and the second is projecting usage to be 50,000 gallons a day or less as the project grows. 

 

The Parsons Water Plant currently has three million gallons a day capacity but usually produces much lass than that amount. Peak production occurs during the summer months when usage increases. During that time, the plant still only produces about 1.5 million gallons a day.

 

City officials say the project would place little additional requirements on city utilities while increasing revenue. Depending on which water use option is considered, the City could see as much as $150,000 annually in additional water sales as well as additional utilities franchise fees also potentially reaching $150,000 annually during peak usage times.

 

Parsons residents will able to learn more about the proposed project while asking questions and making comments at next Monday’s regular commission meeting. There will also be an additional opportunity to take part in the discussion at a work session scheduled for Thursday afternoon at 4:30. Both meetings take place in the Commission Room at the Parsons Municipal Building.