[Photo from the Sheridan City Council packet from Thursday’s night meeting. It states on another part of the photo “Map is for general discussion and not intended to indicate exact boundaries.” It is a 2026 Google Earth image.]

Sheridan’s City Council voted unanimously Thursday night in a special-called meeting to approve two recommendations on a proposed data center east of town.

The recommendations agreed to allow the city to explore and negotiate with the developer, and that it enter a service agreement with consultant Gary Brown.

Four of the six council members attended: Lynn Camp, Betty Cook, Morgan House and Jim Lancaster. Camp was selected Nov. 3 to fill the seat vacated by Brian Williams. Justin Wise and Lee Henson were absent.

House moved to approve both recommendations and Cook seconded. The council added language suggested by Lancaster saying the city “is always interested in future economic development” that brings jobs and investment.

The first recommendation emphasized exploration and the public’s chance to speak at meetings.

Mayor Cain Nattin said the city is unlikely to have an agreement in place soon but needs to notify the developer that it plans to negotiate. Sheridan Waterworks Manager David Fitzgerald said the process could take three to four months.

The second recommendation concerns Brown, who Nattin said had done pro bono work, including the three meetings with the developer and a spreadsheet of improvements the city’s system would need.

Nattin said he would send Brown’s bill to the developer.

One person turned in a public comment form. Glenn Strong Sr., who is a South Sheridan Water customer, said he would feel safer with the city in control of the utilities.

Documents given to the council and media Thursday night showed Nattin, Fitzgerald and Brown met with the developer’s team three times in about two weeks.

Calendar invites show Teams meetings on Oct. 27, Nov. 9 and Nov. 11, each organized by Todd Workman of EdgeConneX. The Nov. 9 meeting was a Little Creek Water Users Association coordination call.

EdgeConneX is also in discussions with Grant County about another data center on the east side of the 167 bypass near Eagle Ridge subdivision.

A preliminary estimate prepared for those talks, titled “EdgeConneX – Water – Wastewater Preliminary Discussion Considerations,” puts needed improvements at about $14.7 million, or about $16 million once unpriced items are counted. It lists $10.5 million in water work and $4.2 million in wastewater work.

The largest items are $4.43 million for water treatment plant improvements, based on a June 18 engineering estimate, and $4 million to upgrade the wastewater plant to continuous discharge.

The estimate is marked preliminary, doesn’t name who prepared it, and doesn’t state who would pay.

The developer’s water summary projects average use of about 6,000 gallons a day, roughly what 18 Arkansas households use, and a peak of 15,200 gallons a day. It states the campus would use closed-loop cooling. Those are the developer’s own figures.

On Thursday morning, Nattin emailed attorneys at the Arkansas Municipal League asking whether declining water or wastewater service could be considered unlawful discrimination under a 2023 state law on data centers. His email says the development is mostly outside city limits, that Sheridan has the capacity, and that a small part of the property is inside the city.

As of 3:30 p.m., the Municipal League had not responded, according to a copy of the email.

The city called Thursday’s meetings on short notice.

Nattin moved the Water & Sewer Advisory Committee’s November meeting from Nov. 23 to 5 p.m. Thursday and emailed a press notice at 2:57 p.m.

He called the 6 p.m. special council meeting and texted council members at 12:40 p.m., with press notice at 4 p.m. State law requires media that have asked for notice of special meetings to be told at least two hours ahead.

Minutes from the Water & Sewer Advisory Committee’s Oct. 26 meeting, the day before the first Teams meeting, do not mention a data center.

The council’s agenda said any agreements the mayor negotiates would come back to the council for final approval.