Mayor Parkinson Calls for Calm, Clarity, and Public Participation
as Data Center Speculation Grows

GraniteCityGossip.com, January 22, 2026

At Tuesday night’s council meeting, Mayor Mike Parkinson addressed the growing speculation on social media about the possibility of a data center coming to Granite City. His message was direct: there is no offer, no proposal, and no negotiations underway, but the city is taking steps now to protect residents in case any major industrial project approaches in the future.

No Offer Has Been Made to the City.
Parkinson emphasized that while representatives connected to data centers have been in the region, no company has presented Granite City with an offer of any kind.

“There’s been no offer made to the city. There’s nothing in the works for us to negotiate,” he said. “All I did was prepare everybody, because if we don’t get on top of these things and someone buys land that’s already zoned for it, they can put it in and we have no recourse.”

Why the City Is Acting Now.
The mayor explained that the city is proactively reviewing zoning and drafting ordinances not because a project is coming, but because Granite City must be prepared before any company, data center or otherwise, shows interest.

The goal is simple: protect residents from the very issues they’re worried about, including:
Excessive noise
Bright lighting
Air or soil pollution
Industrial disturbances near neighborhoods

The Planning Commission is currently reviewing these issues so the city can establish firm standards before any proposal ever reaches the negotiation stage.

Learning From Past Mistakes.
Parkinson pointed to Air Products as a clear example of why Granite City must act early.

“If the city had put zoning in place like we’re trying to do now, we wouldn’t be dealing with those loud noises twenty‑four hours a day when that pressure valve goes off,” he said.

He noted that other factories in town have created similar concerns, concerns that could have been prevented if stronger protections had existed when those facilities were first approved.

A Commitment to Transparency.
The mayor stressed repeatedly that all discussions, if they ever occur, will be public.

“When we have an offer or negotiations, we will have public meetings,” he said. “We’re not entering into contracts behind anybody’s back. We’re doing everything in public.”

He urged residents not to rely on Facebook rumors for information.

“We’re not going to negotiate things on Facebook. That’s not how it works. Attend the public meetings. Come listen to the data. Let these folks do the job they were elected to do.”

If a Proposal Comes, It Must Benefit the Community.
Parkinson made it clear that Granite City will not accept any project, data center or otherwise, unless it meets strict standards and provides real value to taxpayers.

“If a data center comes calling and we can’t fix the problems or it’s not worth the money to the taxpayers, then we won’t do it,” he said. “If the juice isn’t worth the squeeze, we won’t do it. That’s the bottom line.”

A Call for Patience.
The mayor closed by asking residents to stay calm while the city does its due diligence.

“They’re here, they’re looking around, but no offer has been made,” he said. “All we’re doing right now is putting protections in place so that if we ever do get an offer, we’re ready.”