Topics Of Transparency, NDAs Take Over St. Louis County Board Meeting

DULUTH, Minn.– The topic of transparency boiled over Tuesday at the St. Louis County Board meeting in Duluth.

What was supposed to be public comment about banning commissioners from signing non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) turned into residents feeling silenced.

The St. Louis County board meeting included a motion by Commissioner Ashley Grimm to prohibit commissioners from signing non-disclosure agreements going forward, after three commissioners signed NDAs on a proposed data center in Hermantown.

“I’m aware that three of you elected commissioners, Keith Musolf Annie Harala and Keith Nelson have already signed NDAs regarding the project in Hermantown, and let’s just call it what it is that we now know. It’s a large-scale data center proposed in a suburban area that is mostly natural land,” said Allison Hafften, a Proctor resident.

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A large crowd attended to publicly voice their opinions on the use of NDAs and the proposed Hermantown project. An opportunity to comment was allowed at first, but Commissioner Vice President Mike Jugovich said, more people would be able to talk later in the meeting.

“For the speakers that are here to discuss NDAs again, it is an agenda item. It’ll be on the agenda if you want to come up and talk about the center itself. And just FYI, we have an agenda item, and that’s usually how we work things,” said Jugovich.

But when Commissioner Grimm’s agenda item was called for a vote for discussion, it failed. And because of that, the planned public comment on the topic was shut down.

“Refusal to consider this item and to allow for public comment. When we see this chamber more packed than I’ve seen it for basically any other session, both speaks to total disservice to our community, as well as a striking example of why we need a policy around prohibiting nondisclosures,” said Grimm.

After the meeting was over, several Duluth residents expressed frustration.

“Definitely was surprising. It seemed like really disappointing to residents and people were really frustrated, fairly so by what happened,” said Annika Frazer, Duluth resident.

“I wanted to come and have a good, fruitful discussion on this as a community, because we’re all involved, no matter how you look at it, in the data center conversation. But it’s unsettling, to say the least, to be cut out of that conversation,” said Antonio Davis, Duluth resident.

“It was an important opportunity to write a ship to collect and to build trust back with the community members who are our bosses, truly ashamed of what just happened,” said Grimm.

A St Louis County spokesperson told FOX 21 the meeting was handled appropriately based off Robert’s Rules of Order. A statement from the county reads in part:

“During the Committee of the Whole portion of the meeting, when the Board got to the resolution regarding NDAs, Commissioner Grimm made the motion, but no commissioner seconded it. Based on Robert’s Rules of Order, which is what the County Board (and most governmental entities) follow, the resolution goes no farther. Unfortunately for the people gathered, that also means there’s no further discussion.” -Dana Kazel, Communications Manager, St Louis County.