Simplified: Dozens of volunteers – and as many as 100 petition circulators – have stepped up to help ensure voters have a voice about whether Sioux Falls should support a proposed hyperscale data center in the northeast part of town. Here's a look at the latest.

Why it matters

  • Volunteer leaders of "Let Sioux Falls Vote" – a referendum effort to let the broader community decide on a rezone request that paves the way for a hyperscale data center in northeast Sioux Falls – say they're optimistic they'll get the signatures they need to put the decision to voters.
    • They wouldn't share how many signatures they had as of Monday afternoon, but given the response they've seen, they're hopeful it'll get to the required 6,704 before the deadline at 5 p.m. Thursday.
  • That referendum came after the Sioux Falls City Council unanimously passed an ordinance to rezone the property, paving the way for a data center. If the signatures come through, it'll be up to the public to decide if that plot of land should be zoned for industrial usage.
  • The effort has also seen the support of Brandon residents, who, while they won't be allowed to sign petitions or vote in the Sioux Falls municipal election, say they still want to help pump the brakes on this data center project. Erin Taggart, a Brandon resident who lives near where the proposed center would be, said she's worried about negative impacts on her community and health that could result if the center is built.
"I am reaching out to everyone I know about this," Taggart said. "This is a big, important deal, and I haven't ran into anybody that's for this (data center)."

Tell me more

The Let Sioux Falls Vote group will be collecting signatures up until the deadline, but petition circulators are encouraged to turn in the signatures they have as soon as possible to leave time to verify voter registration and get forms notarized.

One challenge the group has encountered is a high number of people who want to sign the petition, but they can't because they're either not registered to vote or their registration is not up-to-date.

Despite that obstacle, the petition has seen signatures from across demographics, and political affiliations, said Amanda Kendall, owner of The Painted Lady tattoo parlor, the headquarters for the referendum effort.

Samantha Scarlata, another leader in the referendum effort, said she's very confident they'll get this issue on the ballot.

"If I thought we didn't have a chance, I don't know that I would've done this," she said.

Both leaders emphasized the petition drive is less about being "anti data-center" and more about making sure the public has a voice in the decision.

"It's about having the opportunity to vote," Kendall said.

How can I get involved?

This website shows a map of places accepting signatures for petitions. You can also stop by The Painted Lady from noon to 7 p.m.

Petitions must be signed, notarized and turned in to the city by 5 p.m. Thursday.