Dorr Twp. Board gets an earful about Microsoft project

The “torches and pitchforks” that showed up Tuesday night at the Dorr Township Planning Commission meeting dropped in at the Dorr Township Board meeting Thursday evening.

The issue was the same — Microsoft’s plans to build a facility to house a data center on 128 acres at U.S.-131 and 14th Street. It was stated on Facebook Thursday afternoon, “Lakeshore Advantage is spearheading the drive and we need to be contacting our local townships, representatives and people to stop this process.”

So more than five dozen citizens attended the Township Board meeting, and most were not pleased with prospects of a new center and said so vociferously.

Key reasons for project opposition were use of water, much higher use of local power sources, increased burden on infrastucture and pressure on an already stressed traffic system.

Supervisor Jeff Miling had his hands full trying the keep the meeting orderly and respectful. It was indeed an angry mob in the audience.

Miling told the visitors, “We’re not going to settle anything here tonight.” He reiterated what Planning Commission Chairman Dan Beute said that absolutely nothing can or should be done until Microsoft submits a site plan.

He cautioned, “That (parcel of land) is zoned for the type of business they’re going to put in there.”

Miling said the township’s master plan for that parcel is zoned commercial and industrial and would accommodate the data center. He insisted Microsoft very likely could win approval “by right” and any township attempt to go to court would not end well.

Speaking to claims the center would use too much water, the supervisor said, “It’s a closed water system. The water is going to be recirculated.”

There were rumors circulating that the data center also would create problems with heavy metals.

Miling acknowledged he has had three meetings with Microsoft representatives to learn about the company’s intentions, which irked audience members who said they thought such meetings should have involved more than just him. But anything more than three township officials would be illegal.

So at least one audience member flatly declared, “So it’s a done deal.”

One man asked if there is any way there could be a public meeting between township officials and representatives from Microsoft to explain what will happen and how. Former Township Clerk and Planning Commissioner Brian Boot expressed his support for such a move.

The man who suggested the move, said, “What protection do we have against this company selling us a bill of goods?’

Another citizen, Justin James, insisted that these data centers won’t have a lot of human employees and instead will be staffed by artificial intelligence.

“This could evolve into something way bigger,” he added. “I feel like we’ve had the rug pulled out from under us.”

Another man observed of the meeting, “It seems like a lot of people don’t want this.”

However, Dean Morgan suggested, “We’re all victims of the rules.”

Township Trustee Pat Champion noted the Planning Commission held public hearings on the master plan, but very few people bothered to show up. The master plan that was approved last year insists that Microsoft’s project is entirely legal.

So township officials reiterated there is nothing they can do until after a site plan is submitted to the Planning Commission.