Christian County residents gathered on Aug. 27 for the first of a series of public listening sessions hosted by Presiding Commissioner Lynn Morris. The meeting, held in Springfield, focused on the county’s stance toward data center development as Morris approaches his retirement in December.
Commissioner’s position
During the session, Morris made clear his personal view: “If I was going to still be here next year, I don’t think there’s any way you could convince me to put a data center in Christian County.” While the comment reflects his own reservations, he emphasized that the county’s next steps will be guided by community input.
Resident concerns
Attendees voiced a range of worries. Many cited the potential strain on electricity and water supplies, the impact on neighborhoods, and broader environmental considerations. “Not many people want to live next to a pig farm, but boy, oh boy, do they love bacon in the morning,” said Nixa resident Mike Miller, drawing a vivid analogy to the data‑center debate.
Groundwater protections
Ozark businessman Kevin Bright highlighted an existing safeguard: the county’s ordinance protecting karst features and groundwater around Smallin Cave. Bright, who operates the tourist attraction, explained that the ordinance was originally crafted after water‑pollution incidents near the cave. “If we pull that ordinance out, we could adapt it to what would happen with a data center, but we already have protection if they start harming our water,” he said.
The ordinance, first adopted in Ozark, was later incorporated county‑wide in 2024. Staff noted that the framework was designed to be replicated across multiple areas as needed, rather than serving as a single reactive measure.
No developers on the table
Both Commissioner Morris and legal assistant Brenda Porterfield confirmed that no developers have approached Christian County with a data‑center proposal. The county is monitoring nearby projects, such as a small‑scale data center in Webster County, to gauge potential impacts.
Clarifying a misunderstanding
During the meeting, Morris mistakenly referenced a “large data center being built right here at the border of Christian County” near Lake Springfield. A resident and a reporter questioned whether he was actually talking about a battery‑energy‑storage facility at the former City Utilities James River Power Station. City Utilities later clarified via email that the site hosts a battery storage plant, not a data center.
Next steps
Morris said he will discuss the possibility of forming an advisory committee and potentially placing a moratorium on data‑center projects with the other county commissioners. Future listening sessions will address other pressing topics, including surveillance cameras, road and bridge infrastructure, and additional community concerns. A date for the next session has not yet been set.
What this means for residents
The discussion underscores Christian County’s cautious approach to large‑scale technology projects. By involving citizens early and considering protective ordinances, the county aims to balance economic development with the preservation of water resources, environmental quality, and the character of local neighborhoods.
Original reporting: Springfield Daily Citizen — read the source article.
