Grayslake schedules extended comment session on controversial data center plan

Grayslake officials Monday announced tandem actions regarding public comment involving the controversial T-5 data center project.

A one-time extended public comment session will be held Thursday for the already approved T-5 data center project, which has generated considerable attention at village board meetings for some time.

Also, starting with tonight's board meeting, the board will return to its regular policy of a 15-minute public comment period for nonagenda items, according to a press release.

And “in response to recent information and in consideration of ongoing law enforcement concerns,” public safety measures will be instituted beginning at tonight's meeting and at future meetings until further notice, the village said.

Those measures will include preentry screening which includes metal detection and a prohibition on bags, backpacks and other items inside village hall during board meetings.

Regarding law enforcement concerns, Deputy Village Manager Chase Muscato said details can’t be provided due to the nature of that information. He added that precautionary safety measures have been suggested by law enforcement.

Entry into village hall will be permitted starting at 5:15 p.m. before board meetings, which start at 6 p.m. at village hall, 10 S. Seymour Ave.

“Our coalition strongly opposes any form of aggression, threats or violence against anyone involved on either side of this,” said Michael Smith, chair and co-founder of lake County Data Center Opposition Coalition.

The group is supporting a lawsuit filed against the village, T-5 Data Centers LLC and Alter Asset Management Co., the developer of Cornerstone business park where the data center will be built.

The extended public comment session on the data center campus will be at 6 p.m. at the University Center of Lake County, 1200 University Center Drive, south of Washington Street and adjacent to the College of Lake County campus.

At that session, public comments will be heard after a short background presentation on the project, according to the village.

Smith said he expects the session to be well attended but it “doesn’t change anything for us.”