If you are interested in submitting a public comment but aren’t sure where to start, I am hoping to provide some direction in how to format your thoughts.  Like many of you, I am not a professional writer, lobbyist, speech writer, or politician.  I am just a person who is passionate about my city and home.  But there are a few things that I have found helpful when organizing my public comment for the Hermantown City Council.

First, if you are commenting on the updated AUAR Scoping Document, I encourage you to read the release from the City of Hermantown on 3/31/26.

Public Comments on the AUAR Scoping Document are due by Thursday, April 30th, 2026.

Comments can be mailed here:

Or emailed to: AUARcomments@hermantownmn.com

Next, choose a topic within the AUAR that you feel a connection to. I know its hard, but try to limit yourself to one or two related topics at a time. For example, you could focus on the impact on local cold water trout streams and water pollution; or, focus on noise pollution from the 400 air-cooled chillers (100 per data building) and the effects on public health.

I don’t believe there are limits to the number of times you can submit a written public comment, but each city has its own rules. However, in-person public comments at meetings are limited to 3 minutes and you can only speak once per agenda item.

Once you have chosen a topic, do a little research on what the concerns are and how other communities who are dealing with data centers have been affected. The SHDC and MCEA websites have some great information to get you started.

Finally, organize your public comment using a basic pattern.

1- Start with who you are; your name and address are often necessary for public comment but it also humanizes and makes you more than just some words on a page. If you feel compelled, include a short sentence to describe your connection to Hermantown or the surrounding area. For example, my family has been living in Hermantown for over 100 years. 

Then, clearly state your reason for writing (or speaking). Include what your public comment is connected to. For example, “I have concerns regarding the City’s new AUAR for Google’s hyper-scale data center.”

2- Introduce your main topic and describe some of the possible affects on things like public health, the environment, water quality, etc. 

3- Connect your concerns with other related projects in the city, region, other communities, and/or the US.  For example, if you are writing about water pollution and cold water trout steams, you could relate this to the 2024 fish-kill in Duluth’s Tischer Creek that recently resulted in the City of Duluth paying around $200k in fines. 

4- Describe how you think the City should proceed. If you don’t think the AUAR properly addresses your concern, describe what measures you think should be taken to appropriately address it.  The SHDC and MCEA hold that the city should be using an EIS for this project, instead of the AUAR. This could be a spot to add your support for that and the reasons you support it.

5- Restate your concern with a final sentence or two. 

A few things to consider when writing your public comment.

1- Keep focused on the topic of your public comment. Though you may want the Hermantown City Council to scrap the entire project, if you are commenting on the AUAR, try to keep your comments to why you are concerned with the AUAR.

2- Focus on facts. Include specific articles, news reports, research materials, MN statutes, etc. to support your position. Use sections of the AUAR Scoping Document that relate to your specific topic.

3- Avoid the emotional appeal.  The City of Hermantown and the Mayor have made comments that residents are overreacting to this project and that the fears are “all in your heads.”  This leads me to believe that emotional appeals, while completely valid, are being seen as a lesser argument against progress. 

4- Your public comment will become part of the public record. Stay respectful, don’t use disparaging language, and remember that even if you don’t agree with them, they are still our neighbors. My father always told me that how I treat the people around me is a reflection of me, not them.

I hope you all find this helpful in preparing your public comment.  This is only a suggestion for how to organize your thoughts.  There are many other affective methods of writing opinion pieces and I encourage everyone to explore what works best for you.

Thank you again for supporting me and my fellow community members. It’s easy to feel like we are up against a giant but your continued encouragement helps to keep us fighting.

Sarah Lofald

Hermantown Resident