Finally — a little common sense from the courthouse.
In a rare move that deserves genuine applause, Platte County Presiding Commissioner Scott Fricker is taking a stand against the latest shiny “tech project” promising vague “innovation” and “jobs” — but demanding a massive public subsidy to make it happen.
Fricker said he “can’t support Project Kestrel” because it would hand out “massive property and sales tax subsidies to the world’s largest and richest corporations” — all while leaving Northland taxpayers, small businesses, and local services to pick up the tab.
In other words: No thanks to billion-dollar companies asking working families to cover their electric bill.
“Project Kestrel,” reportedly a code name for a data center proposal, was expected to demand heavy infrastructure upgrades and long-term utility commitments — the kind that don’t just build themselves. Those costs often end up being spread out among local ratepayers.
Fricker’s position signals that at least some elected officials are starting to ask the hard questions: Who really benefits from these corporate “partnerships”? And is it worth raising power rates or straining public resources just to land a tech logo on the map?
In an era when city councils and county commissions sometimes trip over themselves to hand out incentives, it’s refreshing to see one say: “Not this time.”
Credit where it’s due — Commissioner Fricker got this one right.
Platte County Commissioner 'can't support' $100 billion Northland data center
Just two months after Port KC announced a new $100 billion data center campus will be coming to the Northland, a public official is speaking out against the project, claiming the new venture will &...
Background: What is “Project Kestrel”?
Here’s the word on the street (and in Port KC documents):
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The project is slated for about 379 acres within the existing industrial mega-site dubbed KCI-29, just north of the Kansas City International Airport (KCI) in the Northland. Port KC+2https://www.kctv5.com+2
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It’s slated to include six “hyperscale” data-centers totaling up to 1.8 million square feet in total build-out. Port KC+1
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While the exact corporate backer has not been named publicly, it is described by the developer as “one of the world’s leading tech companies.” https://www.kctv5.com+1
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The developer claims the project would generate over $110 million in new tax revenue over its bond term, though it’s not clear over how many years. Port KC+1
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The plan also promises workforce development: a $0.25 per square-foot levy that, if built out fully, would yield an estimated $15.75 million toward training. Port KC
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The developer pledges use of a minimum of 50 % carbon-free energy for operations and says it will “replace above” its water consumption via paying standard metering rates and supporting local ecosystems. Port KC+1
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Some skepticism exists: one article reports its estimated job creation “approximately 50 high-paying jobs” with average salaries over $100,000 — which many argue is modest compared to the scale of land and infrastructure. Port KC+1
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