Parsons city commissioners are scheduled to consider a contract that would create an option to buy more than 20 acres for a proposed micro-data center. The plan involves reviewing expected water needs and how the project could affect city budgeting and utility revenues, reported by The Iola Register citing The Parsons Sun.
The proposed developer, HyperDatagrid, a Texas-based company, could generate up to $150,000 in annual water purchases and another $150,000 in other utility expenses. City Utilities Director Derek Clevenger said the city is examining two water-demand scenarios, including one projected at 50,000 gallons per day or less as the project grows.
Clevenger noted Parsons’ water plant has a capacity of 3 million gallons per day but produces about 1.5 million gallons per day during peak summer consumption. Depending on which water use option is selected, the city could see as much as $150,000 in additional water sales, plus other utility revenue. Parsons City Manager Jeff Cantrell described the concept as a way to help bridge gaps in the city’s budgeting process, and Mayor Kevin Cruse said the project aligns with goals such as higher-paying jobs, immediate property tax input, and additional purchases of the city’s water with no loss of city services.