The Town of Normal is still mulling over public testimony in the Twin Cities and McLean County from Bloomington's planning commission hearing on data centers earlier this month.
At the Oct. 17 meeting, citizens overwhelmingly spoke out against the prospect of a data center.
“Well, all of the citizen comments and Bloomington’s draft regulations are information that we’re reviewing and taking into consideration as we are starting to prepare and respond to regulations that pertain to data centers,” Normal City Manager Pam Reece said on WGLT’s Sound Ideas.
Reece said those comments are the same ones she's heard from Normal’s residents. In combination with talks around the state, she said the town is paying attention to all the discussion.
“Our residents are interested in the data center topic, regardless of which side of Division Street you’re on,” said Reece. “So, we’re keeping a close eye on that, asking Bloomington questions if we don’t understand their draft regulations and keeping all that under advisement as we move forward.”
Reece said she has not taken a deep dive into the regulations on her own, though town staff has been reviewing and asking questions of Bloomington counterparts.
“And, frankly what we’re seeing right now may or may not be what eventually gets presented to the Bloomington City Council for consideration, so we’ll continue the open lines of communication and find out where Bloomington lands,” she said.
Bloomington would require a community benefit agreement as part of any approval of a hyperscale facility. Reece said Normal would certainly be open to one, but she could not say what kind of agreement given how different they can be.
“That’s a little bit further down the line, so right now we’re still in the information gathering stage and also listening to our state legislators and keeping an ear to what might be coming out of Springfield,” she said.
Reece said the town is still waiting to see if data centers will be brought up during the fall veto session in Springfield. Talks would likely happen in relation to the POWER Act that failed to move forward in the spring.
Reece also confirmed the town has not been approached by a data center operator.
Mental Health Public Safety Fund
Last week, Bloomington Mayor Dan Brady told WGLT he agreed with Normal’s mayor about the need to revisit the intergovernmental agreement Bloomington and Normal have with McLean County.
The Mental Health Public Safety Fund was established in 2016 through a 20-year intergovernmental agreement with the town, the city and the county. Under the agreement, Bloomington and Normal share a portion of their sales tax with the county for the fund.
Reece said she didn’t “have much to report” on the matter, weeks after the town and city threatened to take the county to court.
“We continue to work with the City of Bloomington, and I remain confident that Bloomington, Normal and the county will all eventually agree to interpretation of the intergovernmental agreement, but those efforts are still continuing,” she said.
Reece said the county’s legal counsel has met with the town’s and she said it is with the attorneys to discuss. She did not say if there was a particular resolution the town would be satisfied with.
“Well, we haven’t gotten that far in conversations, so I don’t really have any information to share in that regard,” she said, adding she could not predict whether or not a lawsuit could be avoided, but thinks all parties are interested in reaching a resolution.
“The county currently has a little over $19 million in their fund, and I think everyone’s on the same page in wanting to make sure sales tax funds are used as intended,” she said.
E-mobility law
As of Jan. 1, 2027, the state of Illinois will have a new set of regulations and clear cut definitions surrounding e-mobility devices, including e-scooters and e-bikes.
The law adds new restrictions on age, speed limit and location of devices. It notably will not allow them on sidewalks.
Normal Mayor Chris Koos told WGLT earlier this month the town may not have much room for any ordinance on top of the state law.
“We are working with a committee of representatives from the county, City of Bloomington and Friends of the [Constitution] Trail, Bike BloNo, to make sure we are all on the same page with what those new state regulations are, and then how best to educate the community on those new rules, but otherwise our ability to adopt anything differently is very limited,” said Reece.
Reece said state law will allow the devices to continue to be used on Constitution Trail. With that and the talks with the interested parties, education is the best way forward, she said.
“So, we’re just going to be doing our best in terms of education on effective trail use, what can and cannot be on sidewalks, and maybe how to effectively use our on-street bike lanes and things like that,” she said.
In terms of other age-related restrictions, Reece said she is going to start surveying council members if they want to take up the issue of e-cigarette vending machines, in terms of further regulating them. Bloomington is considering doing the same.
The machines are not allowed in any establishment where people under the age of 21 can be present, but Reece said the council may wish to address them in advance of any new businesses where the machines would be allowed.
Uptown construction
Between the construction of the Trail East and Trail West developments and the Uptown underpass, Normal’s Uptown will be crowded in the years to come.
For one, the planned mixed-use facilities with apartments and retailers already are seeing prep work begin.
“We do not anticipate the developer to get started with actual construction until spring of 2027,” said Reece. “Currently, they’re finalizing their engineering details and final construction type of plans.”
Reece said the contractor for Trail East and Trail West will disrupt traffic on Constitution Boulevard during the construction.
Meanwhile, Normal’s long-awaited Uptown underpass project has rerouted Constitution Trail and in the future will occasionally disrupt the traffic circle.
The anticipated underpass one of a couple detours on the south side of the tracks.
“Willow Street is one that’s been a little bit of an inconvenience now for a couple months since mid-August,” said Reece. “We do expect Willow Street to wrap up by Thanksgiving, and same thing with Vernon Avenue.”
Reece said the work on Vernon has an expected finish date by the end of the year, but the contractor set a target of Thanksgiving as well.
