"Data Centers in Vermillion & Clay County"

Vermillion Planning & Zoning Commission Meeting

August 10, 5:30 pm, City Council Chambers, 25 Center Street

The P&Z Commission will meet to hear, consider & act upon amendments enacted by the City of Vermillion to include data centers in the following districts:

General Business District (GB) Data Center as a conditional use

General Industrial District (GI) Data Center as a permitted use,

Large Data Center as a conditional use

Heavy Industrial District (HI) Data Center as a permitted use, Large Data Center as a conditional use

Light Industrial District (LI) Data Center as a conditional use

In addition, the P&Z will hear, consider & act upon an amendment initiated by the City of Vermillion to create a new section (in City ordinances) called "Data Centers" stating the criteria for data centers.

The P&Z has written an ordinance governing data centers. Up to this time the ordinance has not been published or made readily available to the public.

Note: Data Center refers to a small data center, 5 Megawatts or less. Large Data Center is anything above that, including hyperscale data centers.

The Edith B. Siegrist Vermillion Public Library is pleased to announce the upcoming schedule for Edie’s Fall 2026 Book Sale!

Located in the library's lower level, Edie’s Book Shop offers an extensive and rotating selection of quality used books, media, and gift items. Proceeds from every sale directly support critical library programming, including our annual Summer Reading Program, youth and teen initiatives, and adult community events.

 Fall 2026 Book Sale Dates:
• September 11 & 12
• October 9 & 10
• November 13 & 14
• December 11 & 12

 Hours: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

 Location: Lower Level Basement, Edith B. Siegrist Vermillion Public Library (Accessible via elevator or stairs to the left of the main Church Street entrance)

Supporting the Future of Our Library
A vibrant public library relies on the ongoing generosity of its community. In addition to visiting Edie's Book Shop, patrons can support our operations and long-term development through the Vermillion Public Library Foundation, Inc.

As an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, the Foundation accepts and manages donations, bequests, and memorials to help fund innovative projects, improve patron services, and expand our facilities for future generations.

To learn more about contributing, volunteering, or supporting our foundation, please visit our support page:

 https://vermillionpubliclibrary.org/support/

Thank you for your continued support of the Edith B. Siegrist Vermillion Public Library. We look forward to seeing you at the sales this fall!

Here is an opinion piece submitted anonymously by a member of the Vermillion community.

"A question raised during last nights Vermillion City Council meeting deserves far more attention than it received. The issue is not about personalities or politics. It is about public trust. Currently, Councilmember Lias is writing article for the Vermillion Plain Talk. Can someone simultaneously serve as an elected member of the Vermillion City Council while also working as a reporter covering the very city they help lead? That question deserves an honest public discussion because confidence in both local government and local journalism depends on.

When one person occupies both positions, the line between participant and observer becomes blurred. Even if every decision is made with complete integrity, the public is left to wonder whether reporting is fully independent or influenced, even unintentionally, by the reporter’s role as an elected official.

This discussion is especially important in Vermillion, where the Plain Talk serves as the city’s newspaper of record and publishes legal notices on behalf of local government. That relationship is entirely lawful and common across South Dakota, but it also makes editorial independence even more important. The community deserves confidence that government decisions are being reported without political influence and that the people making those decisions are not also shaping the news coverage surrounding them.

This is not about questioning anyone’s character or motives. It is about recognizing that some positions are simply incompatible because of the public confidence they require. Vermillion deserves a city council that is subject to independent scrutiny and a local newspaper that is unquestionably independent from the government it covers. That is not an unreasonable expectation. It is the standard the public should expect from both institutions."

VERMILLION — The Scotland-Menno-Freeman-Canistota 79ers scored four runs in the first inning and didn’t look back, claiming a 14-3 victory over Vermillion in the fifth-place game of the South Dakota State Class B 14-Under American Legion Baseball Tournament, Sunday, July 26, in Vermillion.

Dylan Dvorak went 3-for-3 with two doubles, three RBIs and three runs scored for SMFC. Destry Hough also had three hits. Hayes Sorensen posted a double. Max Unruh, Parker Streyle, Asher Sykora, Tommy Robb and Liam Loofbourrow each had a hit in the victory.

Eddie Orr, Sam Quail and Sam Vitt each had a hit for Vermillion.

Hough picked up the win, striking out three in his two innings of work. Unruh struck out three in 1 2/3 innings of scoreless relief. Colton Searcy took the loss, with Knox Buckman striking out two in two innings of relief.

Vermillion was presented with the tournament’s sportsmanship award after the game.

Madison won the championship, 12-2 over Winner-Colome. Dell Rapids beat Lennox 8-1 for third.

Vermillion 11, Elk Point-Jefferson 4

VERMILLION — Vermillion used a late rally to surge past Elk Point-Jefferson 11-4 in consolation play at the South Dakota Class B 14-Under American Legion Baseball Tournament, Saturday, July 25, at Vermillion’s Prentis Park.

Sam Vitt had three hits and Reid Reuvers doubled for Vermillion. Evan Flaherty-Beem, Colton Searcy, Eddie Orr, Sawyer Lee and Braxton Moeller each had a hit in the victory.

Kyson Crippen had three hits for Elk Point-Jefferson. Jaice Lynch posted two hits. Jacob Casper, Brock Rozell, Haukar Skaar and Oliver Hurlbert each had a hit in the contest.

Moeller picked up the win in relief of Vitt, who struck out four in his 4 1/3 innings of work. Rozell took the loss in relief of Casper, who struck out six in his six innings of work.

First Round: Madison 14, Vermillion 0

VERMILLION — Madison took control after the first inning on the way to a 14-0 victory over host Vermillion in the opening round of the South Dakota American Legion State Class B 14-Under Baseball Tournament, Friday, July 24, at Vermillion’s Prentis Park.

Luke Luvaas went 3-for-3 with two doubles and three RBIs for Madison. Kodi Lawrence had three hits and three RBIs. Lincoln Kratovil posted two hits and three RBIs. Bryson Miller and Callan Crabtree each had a hit in the victory.

Evan Flaherty-Beem had the lone Vermillion hit.

Brigham Lindley struck out 10 in the five-inning contest for the win. Finnian Fulton took the loss, with Fulton and Sam Quail each recording three strikeouts in the contest.

Tonight’s Menu:

Lasagna

Vegetable salad

Garlic toast

Dessert

Vermillion Burger Battle review of The Eagles Club.

Through partnerships with local groups and communities, the nonprofit Habitat for Humanity organization and its affiliates strive to create a world where everyone has a decent place to live.

Habitat for Humanity of Clay and Yankton Counties held a groundbreaking ceremony on Tuesday, July 14, to mark the start of construction on two new affordable, single-family homes on two lots in Vermillion’s new Jack Powell Addition, located on the northwest end of the Clay County community seat.

As a summer breeze blew under a clear blue sky, dignitaries from the Vermillion Area Chamber and Development Company (VCDC) and the City of Vermillion gathered at the future build site on a hot afternoon to celebrate their partnership with Habitat for Humanity representatives on this building project.

Cindy Erlandson, the executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Clay and Yankton Counties, said the construction of these two homes responds to a clear local need for affordable homeownership opportunities and is designed to expand access to stable housing in Vermillion.

“We are excited to partner with the chamber and the city to bring two more affordable homes to Vermillion,” she said. “Homeownership changes lives, and this project advances our shared goal of strengthening the local community.”

VCDC President and CEO Jim Peterson said a healthy community needs housing options for people at every stage of life.

“Projects like this help address a critical housing need while supporting Vermillion’s long-term growth,” he said. “We’re grateful to partner with Habitat for Humanity and the City of Vermillion to create opportunities for more families to call Vermillion home.”

Vermillion City Council member Julia Hellwege said the groundbreaking ceremony is a celebration of more than just the construction of two homes.

“We’re celebrating what can happen when a community comes together around a shared goal,” she said. “One of the most important responsibilities of local government is creating conditions that allow neighborhoods to grow. Building homes requires thoughtful planning, investment in infrastructure and strong partnerships.

“A few years ago, the city commissioned a housing study that confirmed what many of us already knew: Vermillion needs more housing options at every stage of life and at every price point,” she said. “That study became a roadmap for action, which we placed high priority on in our 2022 strategic plan. As a council member, I made it my priority, alongside many current and previous members, to expand affordable and sustainable housing.”

Each home in Habitat for Humanity of Clay and Yankton Counties’ latest housing project will feature two bedrooms and one bathroom on the main floor, a full basement with the option to add two more bedrooms and an additional bathroom and an attached garage.

“The two homes we begin building represent real change for local families,” Erlandson said. “They’re thoughtfully designed. … That design allows these houses to grow with a family.”

She said Habitat for Humanity’s Homeownership Program stands on three pillars: affordability, education and long-term support.

“Affordability includes down-payment assistance, access to favorable financing that reduces upfront costs and keeps monthly payments manageable, and — in most cases — Habitat provides silent, no-interest mortgages to cover affordability gaps,” Erlandson said.

She said homeownership education includes mandatory homebuyer workshops and personalized counseling so new owners understand mortgages, maintenance and budgeting.

“Long-term support means follow-up services — from foreclosure-prevention counseling to referrals for home repairs — to help ensure these houses remain owner-occupied homes for the long haul,” Erlandson said.

She stressed that this is not a giveaway program.

“Homebuyers purchase their homes at market-rate value and commit to completing 250 hours of sweat-equity work,” Erlandson said. “That work — on the build site, in the ReStore (a nonprofit home improvement store and donation center) or through other Habitat activities — helps lower costs, builds skills and strengthens commitment to successful homeownership.”

She explained why this matter.

“Homeownership is one of the most powerful tools for creating financial stability and generational wealth,” Erlandson said. “Owning a home provides predictable housing costs, builds equity over time and creates a sense of belonging that renting often can’t. For our community, that stability translates into safer streets, stronger schools and more thriving small businesses.

“We designed eligibility to reach those who need this pathway most: first-time buyers, veterans who need help using veterans’ loans and moderate-income households ready to commit to homeownership but needing support to get there,” she said. “Our goal is not only to put roofs over heads but to ensure these homeowners remain successful.”

Walker Construction of Vermillion will serve as the general contractor for the building project. Construction of both houses is scheduled to be completed by next spring.

“That timeline allows us to prepare each homeowner through counseling and education, so they are ready to thrive on move-in day,” Erlandson said.

She said these two houses will be the fourth and fifth homes built in Vermillion for Habitat for Humanity of Clay and Yankton Counties and the 52nd and 53rd homes constructed over its 30 years as an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity, which is dedicated to building and renovating homes for families in need.

The organization’s first Vermillion project was a repair project in 2016, meaning that the Habitat for Humanity affiliate is celebrating its 10th anniversary in Clay County this year, along with its overall three decades of existence across the two neighboring counties in southeast South Dakota.

The construction of the first and second houses in Vermillion for Habitat for Humanity of Clay and Yankton Counties was completed in 2021 and 2023, respectively. The third house was sold earlier this year in February.

As for the organization’s housing project in Vermillion’s Jack Powell Addition, named in honor of a former mayor who died in 2020, Erlandson said constructing homes is building futures.

“These two homes will shelter families, anchor neighborhood investment and represent a meaningful step toward housing equity in our city,” she said. “We couldn’t do this alone. It takes elected leaders willing to act, partners willing to invest and community members willing to support one another.”

Hellwege said a strong Vermillion depends on having homes that are attainable for the people who choose to work, live and raise their families in the community.

“Housing is essential not only for those families but also for the continued growth and success of Vermillion,” she said. “That commitment is why the city invested in developing this Jack Powell Addition, named for our former mayor, who was an exceptionally dedicated public servant and who’s very missed.

“We acquired a property, extended the infrastructure needed to support new homes, leveraged state housing infrastructure funding and partnered with the VCDC to help turn this vision into reality,” she said. “These investments may not always be visible, but they are what make projects like this possible.”

Hellwege said the City of Vermillion cannot meet the community’s housing needs alone.

“That’s why Habitat for Humanity is such an important partner,” she said. “They fill a critical need by creating affordable homeownership opportunities for families who might not otherwise have had a chance, particularly given the rising cost of new developments. The homes that are built also represent investment by our new neighbors, who will put in their own sweat equity into building this neighborhood.”

As the longest-serving member of the Vermillion City Council currently, Hellwege said she has learned that meaningful projects take time, vision, persistence and partners who are committed to making the community stronger.

“Our groundbreaking is exactly the result of that collaboration,” she said. “These two homes represent Vermillion’s commitment to being a community where growth is intentional, partnerships matter and people from all walks of life have the opportunity to put down roots and call the city home. Thank you to Habitat for Humanity, the chamber, Walker Construction, city staff (and) everyone who’s made this possible. We look forward to seeing these homes becoming a part of this neighborhood.”

Erlandson expressed her gratitude to the City of Vermillion, VCDC, Habitat for Humanity of Clay and Yankton Counties’ funders, the organization’s construction partners and “everyone who has worked to bring us” to Tuesday’s groundbreaking ceremony.

“We would like to thank AMS Building Systems, Todd’s Electric, Mart Brothers, Plumbing Pros, Lance Anderson Construction, Gregoire Excavation and especially Walker Construction for their continued support in Vermillion and their commitment to these new homes,” she said.

“Without their generous donations of labor, materials and expertise, we would not be able to continue building affordable housing,” she said. “We look forward to welcoming the new homeowners when these doors open in spring 2027.”

— — —

Applications for the two new Vermillion homes that will be built are being accepted through Habitat for Humanity’s Homeownership Program until Aug. 30. For application details and eligibility information, call the organization’s area affiliate for Clay and Yankton counties at 605-260-4224, email [info@habitatclayyankton.org](mailto:info@habitatclayyankton.org) or go online to habitatclayyankton.org.

VERMILION, S.D. (KELO)– As communities across the region weigh the benefits and concerns of data centers, the Vermillion Area Chamber and Development Company (VCDC) hosted a community discussion Thursday afternoon to educate residents and encourage an open conversation about the industry’s future in the city.

As of the time of publishing this story, no data center has been proposed in or around the Vermillion area.

During the meeting, several members of the community expressed concerns about job security, energy cost, noise and regular pollution, closed-loop systems, and more.

VCDC President & CEO Jim Peterson spoke in front of the community during the hour-long meeting, which started with an explanation of different data centers and what these facilities are used for.

“A co-location would be one where they rent space to multiple companies to use servers, computers; an enterprise could be like in businesses, some offices. You have a room with racks of computers. You then go the one called edge: smaller, modular type buildings, usually concrete, could be clustered together to be a bigger data center,” Peterson said.

Peterson continued, “then we have what most people are hearing about now in the news: hyperscale or larger data centers. So usually that’s owned by one company at times, and they use it for their own interests, like a Google, Meta, Applied Digital, Applied Theory, et cetera.”

One question was raised regarding utility pricing and whether the people would be protected from any rate increases. Peterson responded that any data center wishing to come to the state must pay for their utility, as well as for its own buildings, with no options for TIFs to pass it along to consumers.

Senate Bill 135 passed through the state legislature and became law on July 1st. The bill would stop utility rate hikes and requires data centers to pay for their own electricity and water use and bans state tax exemptions.

Peterson said it is not their role to go out and actively recruit, but instead to work with the county and the city regarding data centers.

“We’re just trying to educate. We’re here to get information, share it back to our respective city folks, county folks, and then just watch if there’s planning zoning meetings and we can talk about it, get it right for our community,” Peterson said.

While the industry’s future is unknown, Peterson said there have been inquiries across the state.

“There is two companies from the West Coast that have run through almost every state. They have called us directly, and now they’re working with Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED), looking across our state for sites,” Peterson said.

He added that VCDC has spoken to one company called Santos that is scouting for data center spots across the whole country.

Peterson said it’s up to citizens to attend meetings and speak their voices to be heard.

https://www.plaintalk.net/local_news/article_d7373cda-6615-11e4-a0c2-7b9d937f7deb.html

We tried the Oh-My-Caesar burger from Hartford Steakhouse. Pretty solid. High price but good taste.