'Data Center Day' for Klickitat County Commissioners Oct. 13

• "Data centers threaten our security, privacy and safety.”

• “Once these facilities are built, the impact could be with Klickitat County for decades.”

• “Those data centers do not benefit ordinary people.”

• “Property values and property tax issues, harmful algae blooms.”

• “We are all losers in this game.”

• “Data centers, you can't throw them out like a pot of chili and start over. Once it's there, it's there.”

• “Data centers have nothing to lose. We have everything to lose."

Zachariah Isom, a Spokane County resident, who identified himself as a member of Spokane’s Coalition against AI, and said he had relatives in Goldendale, wondered why Klickitat County wasn't joining its neighbors:

"There are now 10 Washington state counties and over 15 cities that have passed at least a six-month moratorium on data center construction," he said. “Every county around Klickitat has now passed a pause, including those in Oregon."

Chair Ron Ihrig said he had consulted the county's prosecuting attorney (PA): "I asked the PA again yesterday, 'Can we deny data centers?' Because I hear a lot of people saying, 'No data centers.' Let's get past that step. The State of Washington doesn't allow us to deny them. We can only limit them with zoning and conditions, so you have to zone it properly."

Ultimately, the county enacted neither a moratorium, nor an interim data center ordinance, but did decide to forward the proposed interim ordinance to PA Rebecca Cranston for a full legal review.

Under an extensive consent agenda, commissioners approved:

•  A professional services agreement with the Klickitat County Health Department. 

•  A local agency Federal aid project prospectus for curve warning sign upgrades project, CRP 399.

• An agreement supplement for the curve warning sign upgrades project, CRP 399.

• A local agency Federal aid project prospectus for the Pine Creek Bridge rail retrofit project, CRP 395.

• Local Agency Agreement Supplement for the Pine Creek Bridge Rail Retrofit Project, CRP 395.

• A notice to contractors to advertise for the Bickleton Hwy, CRP 394 and Bickleton Hwy Phase II, CRP 400 projects.

•  A small works contract for the Woodland Road Bridge guardrail replacement.

•  A Washington Military Department public assistance grant agreement number D26-132, FEMA-4906-DR-WA for disaster relief for the 2025 winter storm event.

•  A request to schedule a public meeting to consider approval of boundary line adjustment BLA 2022-20, Pimley/Clark.

• A request to schedule a public meeting to consider approval of Short Plat SPL 2022-27, Clark/Pimley.

• A resolution rescinding the county ban on outdoor burning within Klickitat County Burn Ban Zones 0ne, two, and three.

• A request to schedule a public hearing to consider vacating short plat 1987-04.

• A road haul agreement with Holdco, LLC.

• Notice of a public hearing to amend the Six-Year Transportation Program for the Years 2026-2031.S l

•  An Appointment to the Senior Services Advisory Board.