tl:dr The first City Council meeting of the year on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025 will honor Stran Talley and discuss a new animal welfare facility. The council will also vote on a resolution approving the Stillwater Data Center Economic Development Agreement with Kipper LLC, a subsidiary of a Fortune 100 company. The agreement includes a 25-year tax exemption and annual PILOT payments to local entities, totaling $58.2 million.
Stran Talley holding a microphone on stage wearing a plaid button shirts, jeans and boots.
Stran Talley competes on stage at the National Civics Bee in Oklahoma City. Talley finished second place among the five finalists. – Photo Credit: Oklahoma State Chamber

Stillwater City Councilors will start their first meeting of 2025 with a proclamation honoring the achievements of Stillwater Junior High School student Stran Talley.

  • Talley secured a second-place finish in the State Finals of the National Civics Bee. Notably, he is the grandson of former House District 33 Representative, John Talley.

🛝 On the Consent Docket, the City will receive a $17,500 donation from the Grand River Dam Authority to help fund the new playground equipment at Myers Park. 

  • The staff report notes that the total cost of replacement will be between $60,000 and $80,000, which will include equipment for toddlers and older children as well as safety surfacing.
  • The playground was closed in 2024 due to unspecified safety concerns.

🐶 City staff will give two presentations on the proposal to build a new animal welfare facility near the Stillwater Regional Airport. 

  • Director of Engineering, Candy Staring, and Stillwater Police Captain, Royce Stephens, will present information on the facility’s layout, estimated cost, and impact on the community.
  • Assistant City Manager, Christy Cluck, will present information on a proposed April 1, 2025, election for a general obligation bond.
  • Note: Documents for either presentation were not included in the agenda packet that is available on the city's website.

Why it matters: Property owners will want to know how much their property taxes will increase and for how long they will be paying.

aerial map showing the six improvement districts also called phases.
The project area for the proposed data center campus. The state owned property has primarily been used for grazing and crop leases. – Image from Agenda Packet

Data center project considered one of the largest economic developments in Oklahoma’s history

Councilors will vote on a joint resolution with the Stillwater Economic Development Authority to approve the Stillwater Data Center Economic Development Agreement with Kipper LLC.

  • Kipper LLC is a subsidiary of an unnamed leading artificial intelligence and data processing company, reportedly a Fortune 100 household name.
  • The proposed data center campus would span 400 acres and include up to six data center facilities, each valued at approximately $500 million, bringing the total potential investment to $3 billion.

🗳️ Catch up: In the general election held on Nov. 5, 2024, Stillwater voters approved an agreement that permitted Oklahoma Gas & Electric to supply electricity for the project. This agreement alleviated the burden on Stillwater’s local electric utility.

It's all about the incentives

In exchange for a 25-year exemption on ad valorem taxes and special assessments against the company’s personal property, the developer is offering annual PILOTs (payment in lieu of taxes) to local taxing entities.

  • Annual PILOT payments during Phase 1: 
    • Stillwater Public Schools - $624,022.98
    • Meridian Technology Center - $135,599.18
    • Payne County - $89,984.51
    • County Health Department - $17,961.33
    • Community Betterment payments - $132,432 paid to the City of Stillwater
  • The total 25-year PILOT payout for the Phase 1 would total:
    • SPS - $17,624,406
    • MTC - $3,829,755
    • County - $2,541,450
    • Health Department - $507,285
    • Community Betterment - $3,740,303
  • The total 25-year PILOT payout for the Phase 2 would total:
    • SPS - $18,708,662
    • MTC - $4,065,362
    • County - $2,697,801
    • Health Department - $538,494
    • Community Betterment - $3,970,407

 $58,223,925 is the grand total of Phase 1 & 2 PILOT payments through 2057.

🛣️ The agreement also shows road improvements will be made to Richmond Road between West Perkins Road and North Jardot Road to meet the increased demands of the project.

    • Stillwater Public Schools has a transportation facility on Richmond Road that could benefit from the road improvements for school buses. The road is currently a mix of old pavement and gravel.

Appeasing fans of renewable energy

💚 The agreement encourages the company to commit to carbon-free energy sources when possible for the project.

👀 Watch Monday's City Council Meeting on live YouTube
🗒️ View the Meeting Agenda

Downtown (Re)Investment Implementation Policy Committee meeting

Monday afternoon, the TIF District #3 committee will consider an application from Steve Green for a $15,000 Small Business Enhancement assistance to provide new signage, a canopy and ADA access to the store fronts at 918 & 920 S. Main Street. 

  • Those properties are currently occupied by JRP Media Management and Stilly Floral.
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