Wolgemuth may pivot plans in Fort Madison

LEE COUNTY - The developer of land on what is known as Burlington Hill may be shifting his focus to a new site and putting his local project on the back burner.
Dustin Wolgemuth sent a letter to Fort Madison City Manager Laura Liegois Friday morning saying a new site in Wisconsin has his attention and plans in Fort Madison may be put on hold.

The letter was sent via email at 7:25 a.m. which was before Lee County Attorney Ross Braden issued a cease-and-desist order in the afternoon on any facility construction during the county's one-year moratorium on data centers. Pen City Current received a copy of the letter from Wolgemuth at 5:15 p.m.
However, only two small parcels of the project are within city limits, the rest is under county jurisdiction. Wolgemuth said he didn't send the letter to the county because his point of contact has been Liegois since the project started.
Wolgemuth has had conversations around 80 acres of land in Wisconsin that is already connected to natural gas and has been pre-approved zoning for a facility similar to what is proposed for Fort Madison.

"I wanted to give you a quick heads-up on some potential shifts in our project plans. I've got an exciting new opportunity that might change our focus a bit," Wolgemuth wrote.
"Next week, I'll be traveling to a charming small town in Wisconsin to explore an 80-acre site. What makes this particular location so appealing is that it already boasts natural gas access and has pre-approved zoning for a campus. It's looking really promising, and I've already had some productive initial discussions with their local economic development and utility boards."
Wolgemuth said the new possibility in Wisconsin could cause him to re-evaluate the comprehensive development plans for the Fort Madison project. He said it was his original intention to see the Lee County site through to completion before moving on to the next venture.
A meeting Wednesday evening with the Fort Madison Planning & Zoning Commission was met with heavy opposition to the plans on Burlington Hill. However, city officials contend they have no jurisdiction over the project, but are seeking input from residents on possible new zoning for high impact projects, and a possible extension of zoning jurisdiction two miles beyond the city limits. That would require the City Council passing an ordinance and expanding the P&Z board.
Wolgemuth wrote he isn't abandoning the local project and is still waiting cost estimates and timelines for service from Alliant Energy.
Wolgemuth asked that any additional public meetings or ordinances regarding the project include provisions for solar development, truck parking, and space for specialized blockchain containers.
"These containers are designed to operate silently and use a dialectic coolant, making them incredibly quiet and efficient," he wrote.
"I believe these types of businesses would be a perfectly suitable and beneficial addition to the hillside, especially if we proceed without needing to bring in a significant capital investor for a larger build-out."
Wolgemuth told the city that he will be continuing to shape the landscape on the property for future building pads. 
"I want to be completely transparent with you: if our focus shifts to just the solar, truck parking, and blockchain containers for Fort Madison, I have no plans to bring housing or amenities to this area," he wrote.
"I'm really keen to ensure that our plans align with Fort Madison's broader goals and that we're all on the same page regarding the project's potential scale. Nothing is finalized yet, but I'm definitely looking forward to seeing how these exciting developments unfold."

Lee County Supervisors have moved their regular Tuesday morning meeting from the board room in Fort Madison to the Meller Family Health Center to accomodate additional attendees. The agenda always has a time for public comment, and the agenda includes a discussion on hiring an outside lawfirm to help the county navigate zoning for a data centers/nuclear power ordinance and other economic developments. 
Supervisor Garry Seyb said he requested the agenda item and it has nothing to do with the capabilities of the County Attorney's office. He said the county should have outside counsel that specializes in these types of economic developments.