Lee County Services Committee Meeting - 10/13/2026

The Lee County Services Committee meeting was held October 13, 2026. Discussion focused on the county’s Technology Overlay District (TOD) and potential data center development. A public commenter urged the county to extend the current moratorium and raised concerns about transparency, fire and hazardous-material risks, water and electricity use, and noise. Committee members described draft ordinance provisions under review, including electrical infrastructure plans, on-site generation, groundwater and private-well protections, grid-upgrade cost responsibility, emissions, noise, and ongoing compliance reviews. A 90-day moratorium extension was discussed as a proposal for a future county board decision; no vote on the extension or ordinance occurred at this meeting. The only recorded vote was approval of a motion to adjourn.

Transportation and capital-project updates included construction underway on a new Oregon office, with completion anticipated in spring 2027; an upcoming road pavement project; bridge work; and an emergency culvert replacement. The transit district reported submitting a grant application and preparing a capital request to IDOT for potential construction or vehicle improvements. The Regional Office of Education reported receiving a $600,000, two-year Illinois Department of Commerce grant for job training and economic development. No contract awards, vendor selections, or bid approvals were identified.