The Graham City Council voted unanimously on Oct. 29 to approve a 30-year development agreement with Headwaters Site Development for a planned multibillion-dollar data center in Young County. The vote came after nearly four hours of public testimony and about three dozen proposed changes. The council negotiated with Headwaters and Stream Data Centers on payments, water and wastewater service, noise, traffic, environmental protections and the city's power to enforce the terms.
Under the agreement, Graham will provide reclaimed water and wastewater services to the data center in exchange for infrastructure payments and other commitments. The data center property will remain outside Graham's city limits for 30 years.
Olney Mayor Rue Rogers spoke to the council in support of the agreement. He said an estimated 2,000 construction workers will live, shop, travel and seek medical care across Young County, and that Olney's hospital district, schools, roads and public safety agencies would share the project's benefits and burdens. He asked that workforce housing plans, construction schedules, employment figures and traffic information be shared with Olney, Newcastle and other affected communities, and he urged coordination on road maintenance and public safety funding.