Lawsuit filed to stop Montgomery County data center

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A group of Montgomery County residents and property owners has filed a lawsuit to stop the construction of a data center.

Preserve Montgomery County, LLC, is suing two parties, Montgomery County and the Missouri Department of Economic Development.

The group is asking for a Cole County judge to invalidate and ban the county from any action on the plan, bond order and development agreement. Sabrina Cope of Truxton is listed as the company's registered agent.

The lawsuit claims that the county has violated Missouri's sunshine law in multiple ways, all connected to the approval of the data center.

The plaintiffs are suing on 10 counts, including failure to post reasonable accessible public notices, conducting unlawful closed sessions and charging excessive fees to respond to sunshine requests.

In the 35-page lawsuit, the group cites multiple residents making sunshine requests and the county responding with an invoice between $200 and $700 for the records.

The group also accuses the county of not accurately providing notice for public meetings as required by Missouri law.

The Department of Economic Development is accused of failing to properly monitor and administer the grant agreement. The lawsuit states that because the county allegedly violated Missouri's sunshine law, it has also violated an agreement with the department. The DED is accused of not taking action to address these violations in connection with the data center.

Scores of Montgomery County residents have packed public meetings to register their opposition to local data centers, citing concerns about the developments using up energy and water resources.