IOWA CITY

At the same time that two large data centers are being built in Cedar Rapids, Johnson County has placed a temporary moratorium on site plans and building permits for any proposed data centers.

The Johnson County Board of Supervisors approved a moratorium of more than a year on data centers so that county development officials can study impacts that a data center would have.

Data centers, which are being built nationwide to handle the computer systems needed for Artificial Intelligence operations, are heavy users of water and electricity. A Google data center is expected to be one of the biggest users of water in Cedar Rapids, according to a report published by The Gazette of Cedar Rapids. Google is investing $7 billion in Iowa data center facilities.

Johnson County’s moratorium would not stop a data center from being built in Iowa City or any other city in the county, and only restricts proposals in unincorporated parts of the county.

“They have a better ability to monitor the capacity of water use than we do,” Supervisor Rod Sullivan said of cities.

Google built a campus of data center facilities in Council Bluffs, Microsoft has data centers of nearly 4 million square feet in West Des Moines and Meta is planning to build in Davenport after completing a 520-acre site in Altoona, east of Des Moines.

The Johnson County moratorium, approved last Thursday, lasts until Nov. 8, 2026.

Sullivan announces re-election bid

Rod Sullivan, a longtime supervisor who was re-elected to a four-year term just one year ago, has announced his intention to run for re-election again in 2026.

A state-mandated change in the election of Johnson County supervisors may result in Sullivan, and other supervisors, being back on the ballot in November 2026. This time, supervisors will run in districts instead of at-large seats.

“The voters just elected me to a four-year term one year ago. I want to let voters know that I plan on running to keep that seat regardless of how the district maps turn out,” Sullivan said in a statement.

Sullivan lives in Iowa City, which will likely be split into at least two districts by the state.

Sullivan said his priorities include “addressing affordable housing, our mental health crisis and climate change.”

New Jail Committee

Also likely appearing on the 2026 ballot will be a bond referendum for a new Johnson County jail and sheriff’s office.

But how much will it cost?

And where would it be located?

Those questions, and others, led the Board to discuss creating a project committee for a new jail.

“I think that needs to happen,” Fixmer-Oraiz said.

The committee would likely include Sheriff Brad Kunkel, Facilities Manager Dave Curtis, Supervisors Board Executive Director Erin Shane, Supervisors Jon Green and Lisa Green-Douglass, and a county attorney.

Green is leading the effort in finding land for the jail.

Board Action

The Board approved the county’s fall budget amendment.

The Board approved a proposal of $84,600 for boiler repairs at Chatham Oaks.

The Board approved a change order of $4,824.40 from Swanson Construction for work on the Johnson County Courthouse third level renovation.

The Board approved a change order of $22,090.45 from Peak Construction Group for work on the Johnson County Historic Poor Farm kitchen project.

The Board approved a job description for Property Tax and Accounting Coordinator, Treasurer’s Office.

The Board issued a proclamation in honor of Veterans Day, Nov. 11.

Next meeting:

The Board’s next formal session is at 5:30 p.m. November 13. This is the board’s monthly evening session with public hearings for rezoning and platting applications.