The I-4 Blueprint: Menomonie’s Zoning Weapon Against Tech Overreach

Building the Wall: Inside Menomonie’s I-4 Ordinance

How a small town beat Big Tech secrecy. 🛑 When a massive $1.6 billion data center proposal tried to slide into Menomonie, WI, behind a wall of NDAs, the community and city leaders didn’t back down—they fought back and paused the project. Now, they are pioneering a blueprint for local defense by continuously strengthening their unique I-4 industrial zoning ordinance. Thanks to a powerhouse combination of city leadership, the public works director’s civil engineering prowess, the mayor’s environmental engineering background, and an attorney’s expert land use experience, Menomonie is building an impenetrable wall against tech overreach. I was in the room to film this pivotal meeting, and I’ve created an informational documentary to show exactly how this forward-thinking city is staying steps ahead of the curve. Watch the full story to see grassroots defense in action!

Watch Building the Wall: Inside Menomonie’s I-4 Ordinance [OFFICIAL TRAILER]

Menomonie City Council meeting demonstrated a rigorous, collaborative effort to refine the I-4 ordinance by balancing economic progress with environmental and neighborhood preservation. Through detailed updates presented to the city council members by attorney Larry Konopacki and Public Works Director David Schofield, the city is moving toward actionable, legally sound industrial regulations that address critical community concerns like noise pollution, heavy water usage, and strict code enforcement. While the council navigated complex legal boundaries and rejected arbitrary caps that could stifle local commerce, the strong rapport between city leadership and staff ensured a productive dialogue. They built a wall.

You can watch the full informational documentary here:

“On Tuesday September 15, 2026 we had a valuable two-hour discussion about the I-4 ordinance. I wholeheartedly agree with the environmental attorney Larry Konopacki, who has been engaged to assist with this ordinance. He noted that we are significantly ahead of nearly every community in Wisconsin in this process. I truly believe that Menomonie will set a precedent for other communities to emulate in the future.” ~Menomonie Mayor Matthew Crowe

“Thank you to Mayor Matthew Crowe, City Administrator Eric Atkinson, Attorney Larry Konopack, Council President Cody Gentz (Ward 7), and Council Members Jeff Luther (Ward 1), Diane Edwards (Ward 2), Eric Sutherland (Ward 3), Gretchen Yonko (Ward 4), Abigail Pickard (Ward 5), Leland Schwebs (Ward 6), Camden Hargrove (Ward 8), Chad Schlough (Ward 9), Ryland J. Erdman (Ward 10), and Randy Sommerfeld (Ward 11) for participating in the special meeting regarding the I-4 ordinance on Tuesday, September 15, 2026. Your leadership, dedication, and thoughtful discussion during this session are greatly appreciated as we work together to address important community guidelines and future planning.” ~The Red Cedar Watershed Ledger

Ultimately, Menomonie’s fight proves that a small town’s future doesn’t have to be dictated by Big Tech’s secrecy. By standing together, the community and city leaders effectively paused a $1.6 billion data center project and threw out the playbook of non-disclosure agreements. Armed with an ironclad I-4 industrial zoning ordinance and a powerhouse blend of engineering, legal, and local expertise, this forward-thinking community has successfully built a lasting shield against corporate overreach. The full documentary captures this exact blueprint for local defense—showing the world that when grassroots passion meets expert local leadership, corporate giants can be forced to play by the community’s rules.