Encroaching on Our Peace: The Mayor’s Plan to Submerge Our Neighborhood in a 1.36 Million Square Foot Data Center across from Lakeville South High School

Encroaching on Our Peace: The Mayor’s Plan to Submerge Our Neighborhood in a 1.36 Million Square Foot Data Center across from Lakeville South High School

While City Officials claim this is a "light Industrial" use, Olam Holdings refuses to divest it's ownership in the 152 acre land, and Parent company boasts of their Data Center projects according to Court Documents. See a copy of their current Property Tax statement in the link below.

Data Center Information

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Vote November 3rd, 2026

My name is Michael Burnett, and I am proud to announce my candidacy for Mayor of Lakeville. For over 20 years, I have dedicated my career to building the foundational infrastructure that keeps communities safe, connected, and thriving. As a resident of Lakeville, I see incredible potential in our city, and I am running for mayor to bring my extensive experience in public leadership, fiscal responsibility, and large-scale project management directly to city hall. Throughout my career leading multimillion-dollar public initiatives, including managing portfolios exceeding $100 million for the City of Saint Paul, I have learned how to turn ambitious community visions into tangible realities. Whether modernizing public libraries, upgrading energy systems to save taxpayers millions, or building state-of-the-art 20 million dollar emergency facilities like Fire Station No. 7, my focus has always been on efficiency, sustainability, and transparency. I know how to navigate complex budgets, secure state and federal funding, and ensure that every dollar spent directly improves the lives of our residents. Lakeville deserves a leader who doesn’t just talk about the future, but knows how to build it. My approach to leadership is rooted in collaboration and community engagement—listening to residents, business owners, and local stakeholders to ensure our growth reflects our shared values. As your mayor, I will use my expertise in economic development, infrastructure coordination, and cross-functional leadership to guide Lakeville through its next chapter of growth, ensuring our city remains a vibrant, safe, and prosperous place for families and businesses to thrive.

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Across from Lakeville South High School, a masterclass in how city officials dismantle a community.

The Lakeville Mayor and City Council want to put this across from Lakeville South High School. They used Lakeville residents' tax dollars on attorney's fees to defend the Olam Holdings Data Center Project in Dakota County District Court against the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy lawsuit.

They have green-lighted other builds to support the Data Center, including a new Dakota County Electric Facility, a new water well, and new pumps in the water towers, in anticipation of the increased demand for water. The scoping document filed in District Court, reported that the Data Center is expected to intake 2.5 million gallons of water per day, over 900 million gallons per year. Lakeville's aquafir, the Prairie du Chien cannot accomodate this demand for water. The link below shows  the property ownership at Dakota County Land Look-up Tool.

Property Look Up

Strategic Timing: Lakeville Executive Order by Lakeville Mayor Hellier Fast-Tracks Data Center Review During Holiday Recess to avoid Lakeville scrutiny.


Court documents reveal the city posted the AUAR document on the City's website over the holidays to avoid scrutiny. If I am elected Mayor of Lakeville on November 3rd, 2026, my first priority will be protecting our local resources and taxpayer dollars. I will formally request that the City Council implement an immediate pause on data center developments, until we can get more input from our 77,000 residents. Furthermore, I would not have authorized the costly AUAR process, as our community deserves a transparent, comprehensive review before any such infrastructure is fast-tracked.

See the Order

First page ordering auar

Lakeville approved a new Facility for Dakota Electric Association to meet the expected increase in demand for the new data center

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Healthy Lakes; Healthy Community

Ensuring the next generation inherits clean lakes

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Delayed Public Safety Improvements Delayed Public Safety Improvements

Delayed Public Safety Improvements

Muliti-million dollar empty baseball fields over public safety. The mayor and City Council put public safety on hold while they decide whether to spend taxpayer money on a multi-million dollar baseball fields or a firestation. They chose baseball fields.

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affordable community health center

affordable community health center

A new Community health center in Lakeville would be primarily funded through federal grants from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). These clinics, known as Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) often offer free health screening and sliding scale health care.

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New Post Office New Post Office

New Post Office

Lakeville's current postal operations have needed an upgrade for over a decade. Undelivered mail and lost packages demand an updated delivery system. This critical infrastructure should have been a priority with the city.

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Expand access to public preschool

Expand access to public preschool

Every child deserves access to free public preschool. Funds for these initiatives are primarily through state-funded Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) and School Readiness programs. Other states have free preschool, like Iowa, S. Dakota and Wisconsin, Minnesota should too.

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Biofertilizer Innovation & Efficiency Program - eliminating manure use

Launched in March 2026, this pilot provides financial incentives for using biofertilizers and precision technologies to lower nitrogen usage and eliminate the odor.

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Jeff J.

Lakeville Resident

Why are they so determined to put this Data Center in? Are they getting paid to trash our town? This should be a slam dunk NO! Also voting Burnett.

Vicky N.

Lakeville Resident

Thank you for taking the time to host a website and introduce yourself. It shows your commitment to your community and willingness to reach out.

Richard T.

Lakeville Resident

That Baseball field should never been approved before the engine house, that was the wrong call. Voting Burnett.

Lakeville City Employee

Luke takes too much credit the projects. Justin, Paul, Tina, and Allyn do all the heavy lifting, it makes for an uncomfortable workplace. We need a team player at the city, we need a change.

Betty J.

Lakeville Resident

I have lived in Lakeville for 30 years and I do not like the city even considering a Data Center, I'm appalled, and voting for Michael and Julie to get this right!

Tim D.

Lakeville Resident

I can't believe we are having this conversation about a Hyper-Scale Data Center, the clear answer is NO. Voting Burnett.