On the agenda: Balsam Lake 08.18.26 — Data Center (Aug 18)

Office of the Polk County Clerk
100 Polk County Plaza, STE 110
Balsam Lake, WI 54810
PH: (715) 485-9209 | FAX: (715) 500-6503
Email: [email protected]

Polk County, Wisconsin
www.polkcountywi.gov
“Gift of the Glaciers”

July 30th, 2026
PUBLIC NOTICE
The Polk County Board of Supervisors will hold a public hearing on
Tuesday, August 18th, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. at: The St. Croix Falls High SchoolFine Arts Center, 740 Maple Dr., St. Croix Falls, WI 54024 to consider the
following:
Resolution 29-26: Resolution Creating Polk County Code Ch. 42-41,
Enacting a Temporary Moratorium on Data Centers.
A copy of the unadopted resolution is accessible in the office of the
County Clerk, 100 Polk County Plaza, STE 110, Balsam Lake, WI 54810 and
on the County website at:
https://www.polkcountywi.gov/government/county_board_of_superviso
rs/agendas_and_minutes.php#outer-5044sub-5045
Public Participation: All interested parties have a right to either support
or oppose the request(s) by appearing in person at time of hearing.
Comments will be limited to 3 minutes per person. Written comments
will also be accepted if received at least 24 hours prior to the hearing date
and time. Written comments shall be submitted to
[email protected]. Please include what public hearing
the comment is relating to in the subject line of your email. Written
comments will not be read aloud at the meeting.

Resolution No. 29-26
RESOLUTION CREATING POLK COUNTY CODE CH. 42-41, ENACTING
A TEMPORARY MORATORIUM ON DATA CENTERS

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43

TO THE POLK COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS:

WHEREAS, a “Data Center” is any facility housed in one or more structures that primarily contain
computing and networking equipment, along with storage and management systems, to support the
storage, processing, retrieval, management, transmission, and distribution of digital data and
applications; and
WHEREAS, data centers typically feature high-performance servers, storage arrays, networking
equipment, cooling systems, and power backup solutions to ensure uninterrupted operation; and
WHEREAS, the towns of West Sweden, Sterling, Luck, Bone Lake, McKinley, Eureka, Milltown,
Johnstown, Balsam Lake, Beaver, Osceola, Lincoln, Clayton, Alden, Black Brook, and Clear lake (“Towns”)
are under the zoning jurisdiction of Polk County; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Wis. Stat. § 59.69(4), Polk County may enact a moratorium that is not a
“development moratorium” as that term is defined in Wis. Stat. § 66.1002(1)(b); and
WHEREAS, the people of Polk County have concerns about potential health and safety issues
related to the construction and operation of Data Centers, including electrical connections, electrical and
magnetic fields, impacts on air quality and water resources, water use, electricity demand, and fire
hazards; and
WHEREAS, the people of Polk County have concerns that the construction and operation of Data
Centers will result in an overburdening of public services and infrastructure in Polk County, including
electrical and water utilities, town roads, and fire and emergency services; and
WHEREAS, the people of Polk County have concerns about the potential secondary impacts of the
construction and operation of Data Centers, including impacts on property values, noise and visual
impacts, and impacts on the public health, safety and general welfare of residents, businesses, and
visitors; and
WHEREAS, the construction and operation of Data Centers is not consistent with existing
county plans and ordinances including the Polk County Comprehensive Plan, the Polk County Farmland
Preservation Plan, and the Farmland Preservation Zoning District; and
WHEREAS, the Polk County General Zoning and Land Use Regulation Ordinance does not contain
language addressing the location, construction, and operation of Data Centers; and
WHEREAS, a moratorium would allow the county to fully explore, analyze, and research
the environmental, economic, health, and safety impacts of Data Centers and develop consistent
zoning and regulatory standards to be applied to Data Centers in Polk County;

Resolution No. 29-26
RESOLUTION CREATING POLK COUNTY CODE CH. 42-41, ENACTING
A TEMPORARY MORATORIUM ON DATA CENTERS
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, the Polk County Board of Supervisors does ordain as follows:
Polk County Code Section 42-41 is created to read as follows:
42-41 Moratorium
(1) For the purposes of Section 42-41, “Data Center” is defined as any facility housed in
one or more structures that primarily contain computing and networking equipment, along
with storage and management systems, to support the storage, processing, retrieval,
management, transmission, and distribution of digital data and applications
(2) Pursuant to Wis. Stat § 59.69(4), Polk County hereby enacts the following
moratorium: Notwithstanding any other provision in Chapter 42, there shall be a moratorium
on the receipt of applications and granting of all permits or approvals for the placement or
construction of data centers. The purpose of the moratorium is to allow Polk County time to
research the possible environmental, economic, public health, safety, and general welfare
effects of data centers and establish consistent zoning and regulatory standards to be applied
to data centers in Polk County and to allow the Environmental Services Committee to conduct
hearings and make recommendations to the County Board regarding amendments to this or
other county ordinances. The moratorium shall be in effect for a period of twelve months from
the date this ordinance is published (i.e. its effective date) or until the County Board adopts
amendments to this ordinance or rescinds this moratorium, or both. The moratorium enacted
in this subsection (42-41) is not intended to be, and does not, constitute a “development
moratorium” as that term is defined in Wis. Stat. § 66.1002(1)(b).
(3) This moratorium may be extended for up to six additional months by a resolution
passed by a simple majority vote of the Polk County Board of Supervisors if necessary to
complete any necessary work or enact and necessary ordinance amendments.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this ordinance shall be effective upon passage and publication as
provided in Wis Stat. § 59.14;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this ordinance shall not be codified;

Resolution No. 29-26
RESOLUTION CREATING POLK COUNTY CODE CH. 42-41, ENACTING
A TEMPORARY MORATORIUM ON DATA CENTERS
VOTE BY ROLL CALL
Board Members
Aye
RESOLUTION SPONSOR(S):

Supervisor:

Supervisor:

Supervisor:

Nay Excu.

Olson
Route
Bethke
Garvey
Gilbertson
Jarchow
Kelly
Hall
O’Connell
Moris
Luke (2nd Vice Chair)
Duncanson
Arcand (Chair)
Karpenski
Bonneprise (Vice Chair)

Administrator:

BOARD ACTION
Emil Norby, Administrator

Resolution Staff/Department Request:

Vote Required:
Motion to Approve
1st
2nd
Yes:

COMMITTEE(S) REVIEW & RECOMMENDATION
Committee 1:
Environmental Services .
X Recommended
☐ Not Recommended
☐ Neutral
Notes from Committee:
Unanimous voice vote.

No:

Adopted
Defeated
Excu:

☐ Approved by unanimous voice vote
☐ Approved by majority voice vote
☐ Defeated by lack of majority voice vote

RESOLUTION REVIEW COMPLETED BY:

x
Joseph H. Loso, Corporation Counsel

Signature of Committee Chair: _____________________________
Committee 2:

Select a Committee .

x
Emil Norby, Administrator

x
Certification:
The above is a true and correct copy of a resolution that was adopted on
the
day of
, 2026 by the Polk County Board of Supervisors.

Signed: Russell Arcand, County Board Chair

Attest: Shabana Lundeen, Polk County Clerk

Donald W. Wortham, General Government
Division Director

Fiscal & Legal Impact(s):
No Fiscal Impact.
No Legal Impact.