Shelli Berry

The special called workshop convened to review and discuss known and potential development projects in Hood County or adjacent counties related to solar, battery energy storage systems (BESS), AI energy, or other industrial developments. A Commissioner detailed several ongoing or planned projects, including Walco 1, Walco 2, Mara (a Bitcoin data center), a BESS facility near Rainbow Daycare, Rain Lily (solar), Pacificico (energy/data center), Lydian (solar), an AI data center near Comanche Peak, Frasier Coal, and NRG Sailfish. The Commissioner noted that Hood County is considered a 'sweet spot' due to access to energy sources, water, available land, and transmission lines, and participation in the national AI race is a factor. A representative from the Comanche Peak AI project detailed plans for a 721-acre site involving a 1.1 GW co-located data center campus and a 1.2 GW natural gas combined cycle power plant, aiming for the first operational building by mid-2027, with a total construction period possibly spanning five to six years. Public participants raised significant concerns regarding site locations, land usage, proximity to homes, light and noise pollution, water consumption, air pollution, fire protection for complex systems, and the number/salaries of long-term employees versus temporary construction workers.

The session included discussions regarding the architect's contract, specifically addressing vague or unclear options within the agreement and suggesting a modification to limit the contract scope initially to design and working drawings. A significant concern raised was the absence of an owner's representative in the contract terms, which was advocated for to ensure knowledgeable review of cost and schedule adherence. Public commentary focused on opposing a 10% markup on expenses within the contract, arguing that it constitutes misuse of taxpayer funds. A significant portion of the workshop was dedicated to presenting and clarifying an organizational chart detailing the relationships between the Commissioner's Court (owner entity), the architect, the contractor/construction manager, and the owner's representative, emphasizing direct contractual obligations to the Court. The presentation detailed the roles of various engineering consultants (MEP, structural, geotechnical, civil) operating under the architect during both design and construction administration phases.

The meeting commenced with an invocation and following preliminaries, the court addressed citizen comments. Topics raised included concerns regarding prior restraint on public speech and decorum rules, citing a case precedent involving viewpoint discrimination. Another significant focus was the tragic death of Ruby McPaters in 2018, where the speaker detailed alleged misconduct by county/jail personnel leading to her death and demanded policy changes concerning care for pregnant inmates. Furthermore, public comments strongly opposed the development of massive data centers and power plants, citing negative spiritual, environmental, and health impacts, and urged the denial of tax abatements for such projects and required cumulative impact studies on water and air quality.

The meeting included a special announcement regarding the Hood County employee appreciation holiday luncheon. Service awards were presented to James Ko Yates, Beth Stanley, Jonathan Barry and Lisa Samford for their years of service. A reminder was given regarding the rules of decorum for public comments. Matt Long and Jessica Long spoke during the open mic session, expressing concerns about data centers and their potential impact on the environment, community, and personal well-being. The court also discussed retaining Blake Leam Fernandez, an attorney, to assist with negotiations with data centers and the implementation of subchapter K.

The Cook County Commissioner Court convened an emergency meeting to address food insecurity among Hood County residents due to the federal government shutdown and suspension of food support programs. Discussions involved authorizing the county judge to issue emergency funding for food purchases, with input from various speakers representing local organizations. The focus was on providing short-term stabilization and bridging the gap for families and seniors affected by the crisis, with emphasis on community partnership and transparent allocation of resources.