Pine Island — Transcript
Tuesday, May 19, 2026
Public Opposition to Hyperscale Data Center and Battery Projects
City and District Funding Updates
Infrastructure Projects Progress and Planning
Community Engagement and Trust in Local Government
Votes (5)
Public Input Session: Hyperscale Data Center and Battery Projects
Dissent: Reverend David Dirksen, Audrey Jackson, Anna Marie, Joe Blaise, an unknown speaker, Terry Klemisch, David Monticue, Toby Holiday, and Steve Young all voiced strong opposition to the data center project and the city's process.
Moved by null · Seconded by null
Multiple residents expressed severe concerns regarding a proposed hyperscale data center and associated large-scale battery systems, linking them to Google and Excel Energy. Issues raised included the untested nature and safety risks (fire, explosion, corrosive electrolytes) of the battery systems, potential health impacts from infrasound, negative economic consequences (temporary jobs, increased energy costs), and a perceived lack of transparency and community engagement in the approval process. Speakers advocated for a moratorium on such projects and urged the council to reconsider or reverse its decisions, with some warning of electoral consequences if their concerns were ignored. Accusations of council dishonesty regarding previous meeting recesses were also made.
American Legion Fire Hydrant Painting Project
Dissent: None
Moved by null · Seconded by null
The American Legion proposed painting fire hydrants red, white, and blue along main streets for the 350th anniversary of the United States. They requested city permission and funding for paint (up to $1,500), offering volunteer labor. Public Works confirmed no impact on hydrants. Discussion ensued about design (striping vs. full color) and budget.
Resolution 2625: Awarding Sale of Bonds for 2026 Street Improvement Project
Dissent: None
Moved by Unknown [00:33:59] · Seconded by Unknown [00:34:04]
A bond consultant reported a successful competitive public sale of bonds for the 2026 Street Improvement Project. The city achieved a Double A minus stable credit rating. Four bids were received, with the low bidder offering a 3.8% net effective interest rate. A $74,000 premium generated from the sale allowed the bond issue to be reduced from $2.77 million to $2.695 million. The city's cash contribution increased slightly to $71,000 to cover the first interest payment, resulting in minimal overall cost difference.
Resolution 2624: Acceptance of Bid for Elpress Water Tower Rehabilitation Project
Dissent: None
Moved by null · Seconded by null
The city received nine bids for the Elpress Water Tower rehabilitation project. VRC Coatings Inc. was the low bidder at $395,000. It was confirmed that the water tower hosts public wireless facilities, and Dutchess County is working with the city to temporarily relocate antennas during the rehabilitation period.
Sidewalk Installation for 2026 Street Improvement Project (First Avenue Southwest and Third Street Southwest)
Dissent: None specific to a vote, but council members expressed differing views during discussion.
Moved by null · Seconded by null
The council discussed sidewalk installation for the 2026 Street Improvement Project on First Avenue Southwest and Third Street Southwest. The city's 'complete streets' policy typically requires sidewalks on both sides, but resident concerns were raised regarding the close proximity (12 ft) of sidewalks to homes. The urgency was highlighted due to tree removal plans for the contractor. The debate centered on whether to maintain sidewalks on both sides or only on one side to address resident feedback and consistency with other areas.
Notable Quotes (10)
One conversation that the community wants to have is whether this is a good project for our community. But the other conversation that I'm reading from the actions, the words coming from the council is how do we make sure this happens?
The battery is 30 times larger in size and capacity than any battery system on the planet. It is untested, the true failure rate is unknown, and it's a completely different system than lithium ion batteries. It contains a highly electrolyte that are corrosive and pose a significant safety risk to the first responders.
We all know that a terrible mistake was made here in Pine Island to convert nearly 500 acres into a massive hyperscale data center without first talking to the residents. But thankfully decisions like this are not carved in stone. They can be revisited, revised, and reversed.
According to Google, infrasound is low frequency vibrations that cannot be audible. Yet it can be solely detected by the inner ear and body miles from the average school bus maintenance researchers have associated prolonged exposure with headaches, anxiety, nausea, dizziness, sleep disruption, stress, hypertension, and other health concerns.
This moratorium will put a pause on all data center projects for 1 year. And I'm urging the Pine Island City Council members, whether they're Democrats or Republicans, to make a motion and roll call a vote on this mor- moratorium today. Continuing to greenlight this data center will be detrimental to working class people in Pine Island...
We have a Double A minus stable credit rating, which is a fantastic rating. ... We received four bids. ... the net effective interest rate there the low bidder is 3.8 change. ... $74,000 was a premium generated because of that. And so we used that premium to reduce the bond issue. ... now you can see we're down to 2.695 million.
The low bidder was VRC Coatings Inc. with a bid of $395,000. So tonight the the resolution 26-24 is accepting that bid.
Does this Does this tower have any public or private wireless facilities on it? Yes. Is it both or is it It has public. Okay. Um one of the items on my consent agenda was uh uh Dutchess County wanted to put a platform on the water tower um to put like their uh video system on. We have been working with the county and they are going to be erecting a temporary pole Yes. To remove the antennas to that pole while we are rehabbing the water tower. That's encouraging that that's good to hear that the county is reasonable to work with.
The conversation has been regarding the sidewalks. Um the historically the city has had a complete streets policy where sidewalk is to be installed on all new street projects... there's been some some conversations with residents regarding how close the sidewalk is to the front of their homes.
I really think that we should keep them on one side. I wish that that someone just having third residence on both streets, some of them. Um and I feel that with the continuation of the sidewalk going down Third all the way to Main Street and then the one side being there's no continuation of the sidewalk on the east side.
Ordinances & Resolutions (13)
Request to approve for renewal
Delegate LDU Moody County
Request to approve
Request to approve
Approving monthly donation
Proposed 1-year pause on data center projects, submitted by David Monticue
Moratorium modeled after Inver Grove Heights proposal, advocated by Toby Holiday
Awarding the sale of bonds for the 2026 street improvement project
Related to the sale of bonds for the 2026 street improvement project, unanimously approved
Accepting the bid for the Elpress Water Tower rehabilitation project
State legislative bill providing funding with a 100% matching requirement for the San Ysidro district
Point Source Implementation Grant Program, funded by state legislature for sanitary district projects
City policy requiring sidewalks on new street projects