On the agenda: Hermantown City Council Meeting — data center (Oct 8)

CITY OF HERMANTOWN
City Council Continued Meeting
Thursday, October 8, 2026 – Continuation of October 5, 2026 Meeting
6:30 PM Central
MEETING CONDUCTED IN PERSON
Mayor Wayne Boucher:

Present

Councilor John Geissler:

Present

Councilor Andy Hjelle:

Present

Councilor Brian LeBlanc:

Present

Councilor Joseph Peterson:

Present

CITY STAFF:

[City Council] John Mulder, City Administrator; Eric Johnson; Community
Development Director; Joe Wicklund, Assistant City Administrator; Chad
Ronchetti, Economic Development Director; Jim Crace, Director of Public
Safety; Zach Graves, Fire Chief; David Bolf, City Engineer; Haley Webb,
City Attorney

VISITORS: 65
1. CALL TO ORDER
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
3. ROLL CALL
4. RESOLUTIONS
A. 2026-125 Resolution Approving Route For The Minnesota Power St. Louis
County 230-kV Transmission Line Project
(motion)
Motion to approve 2026-125 Resolution Approving Route For The Minnesota
Power St. Louis County 230-kV Transmission Line Project. This motion, made by
Councilor Peterson and seconded by Councilor Hjelle.
Sarah Lofald, Hermantown, MN – Spoke in opposition of the proposed resolution.
Tom Bates, Hermantown, MN – Spoke in opposition of the proposed resolution.
Jonathan Thornton, Hermantown, MN – Spoke in opposition of the proposed
resolution.
Sarah Winter, Hermantown, MN – Spoke in opposition of the proposed resolution.
Jim Klukkert, Duluth, MN – Spoke in opposition of the proposed resolution.

City Council Continuation Meeting
October 8, 2026
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Ashley Andersen, Duluth, MN – Spoke in opposition of the proposed resolution.
Emma Richtman, Hermantown, MN – Spoke in opposition of the proposed
resolution.
Clarissa Ek, Solway, MN – Spoke in opposition of the proposed resolution.
Dawn LaPointe, Hermantown, MN – Spoke in opposition of the proposed
resolution.
The original motion to approve was amended to a motion to table.
(motion, roll call)
Motion to table 2026-125 Resolution Approving Route For The Minnesota Power St.
Louis County 230-kV Transmission Line Project. This motion, made by Councilor
Peterson and seconded by Councilor Hjelle, Carried.
Councilor John Geissler:

Yea

Councilor Andy Hjelle:

Yea

Councilor Brian LeBlanc:

Yea

Councilor Joseph Peterson:

Yea

Mayor Wayne Boucher:

Yea

Yea: 5, Nay: 0
5. PUBLIC COMMENT
Rick Davis, Hermantown, MN – Spoke in opposition of the proposed data center project.
He spoke about experience during public comments at the last city council meeting.
Carol Walch, Hermantown, MN – Spoke in opposition of the proposed data center
project. She shared that public comments are supposed to shape the democratic process.
Karen Harmon, Hermantown, MN – Spoke in opposition of the proposed data center
project. She expressed concerns regarding the public comment sign up process.
Jim Klukkert, Duluth, MN – Spoke in opposition of the proposed data center project. He
expressed disappointment in the Councils actions.
Tom Bates, Hermantown, MN – Spoke in opposition of the proposed data center project.
He expressed concerns with Googles actions and plan for water waste.
Motion by Councilor Hjelle to recess at 7:51 p.m. Seconded by Councilor Geissler.
Motion carried, all in favor. Council reconvened at 8:02 p.m.

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City Council Continuation Meeting
October 8, 2026
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Mary Delano, Duluth, MN – Spoke in support of the proposed data center project on
behalf of the Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce.
Jonathan Thornton, Hermantown, MN – Spoke in opposition of the proposed data center
project. He thanked Council for tabling the previous resolution.
Sarah Lofald, Hermantown, MN – Spoke in opposition of the proposed data center
project. She expressed that encouraging citizens to be rowdy was not a call for violence.
Sarah Winter, Hermantown, MN – Spoke about Hermantown Citizens not feeling heard.
She expressed frustration with changing rules that separate the Council even father.
Dawn LaPointe, Hermantown, MN – Spoke in opposition of the proposed data center
project. She expressed concern with Googles campaign and corporate capture.
Tim Resberg, Hermantown, MN – Spoke in opposition of the proposed data center
project. He shared some issues that should be in written guarantees from Google.
Emma Richtman, Hermantown, MN – Spoke in opposition of the proposed data center
project. She shared concerns that citizens have shared with her while she is campaigning.
Cliff Davis, Hermantown, MN – Spoke in opposition of the proposed data center. He
expressed concerns about corrosion.
6. RECESS
Motion to recess at 8:30 p.m. This motion, made by Councilor Geissler and seconded by
Councilor Hjelle, Carried.
Councilor John Geissler:

Yea

Councilor Andy Hjelle:

Yea

Councilor Brian LeBlanc:

Yea

Councilor Joseph Peterson: Yea
Mayor Wayne Boucher:

Yea

Yea: 5, Nay: 0

ATTEST:
__________________________________
Mayor
________________________________
City Clerk

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