In The News
October 7, 2025
Port Washington Town Council Meeting – Public Comments Against Data Center
October 1, 2025
News Article
The agreement between Vantage and the city allows Vantage to use up to 1.2 million gallons of water per day from Port Washington’s water plant. The company said peak usage is only expected on the hottest days of the year. Neitzke said the water used by the data center campus will be reclaimed and treated at the city’s wastewater treatment plant.
https://spectrumnews1.com/wi/madison/news/2025/09/23/data-center-port-washington
August 21, 2025
News Article – Eastern Wisconsin city approves development agreement for $8B data center campus
https://www.wpr.org/news/wisconsin-city-approves-development-data-center
July 8, 2025
Article
Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers did not approve the creation of a Tax Incremental District (TID) in Port Washington; instead, he signed legislation in July 2025 that provides a specific exemption for the district. This enabled the city to move forward with plans to establish TID #5 to support an $8 billion data center campu
April 25, 2025
News Article – Port Washington annexes, zones land for data center
https://www.wpr.org/news/port-washington-annexes-zones-land-data-center
April 15, 2025
Port Washington neighbors take complaints on proposed data center to Common Council
Despite the objections, the Common Council took the next step forward, approving an ordinance to add a new zoning code to the city’s zoning rules. The “I-3 Technology Campus District” will govern the proposed data center site.
April 14, 2025
Port Washington-Saukville School District deficit; teacher cuts coming
In the Port Washington-Saukville School District, voters just approved a nearly $60 million referendum, but it is facing the reality of a $1.2 million deficit and teaching personnel cuts
https://www.fox6now.com/news/port-washington-saukville-school-district-deficit-teacher-cuts-coming
January 24, 2025
News Article
Port Washington city and town leaders agreed on a deal that would annex 1,900 acres of the town to pave the way for a massive new data center.
January 21, 2025
Residents raise concerns as City and Town of Port Washington leaders agree to land annexation
City and town leaders agreed to amend a border agreement that dates back 20 years. This is the next step for the potential data center project.
January 19, 2025
UpFront WISN 12 Interview Mayor Ted Neitzke
States there is a lot of potential for development due to the open farmland whereas places like Ohio would require rebuilding on old industrial centers. Other states like Texas come here and see the open space with potential for development.
https://www.wisn.com/article/upfront-new-data-center/63468374
January 7, 2025
‘I don’t trust what’s going to happen:’ Port Washington residents worried about possible data center project
Interview with Mike Dider discussing possible early annexation.
January 7, 2025
Massive data center complex planned for Port
The data processing proposal has been widely rumored for some time, but the property involved has been in the public eye since last year, when Jeff Hoffman, a principal with the Milwaukee commercial real estate company Cushman & Wakefield/Boerke, purchased options to buy what’s been described as 1,800 to 2,000 acres for a microchip manufacturing facility. That deal, brokered with help from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp., fell through, but officials said they planned to market the land for other purposes. Neitzke said that he approached WEDC and the Milwaukee 7 Partnership to try and find a company that would meet the city’s development goals. The land the complex would be situated on stretches from the City of Port’s north border north to Dixie Road and is west of I-43 and east of the Ozaukee Interurban Trail. The intent is to annex the land to the city, Bilyeu said. However, Town Chairman Mike Didier said Monday that much of the property is in a no-annexation zone created when the town and city reached a border agreement in 2004. That agreement ends on Dec. 31, and Didier said the city approached town officials to see if they are willing to end the agreement early and allow the land to be annexed before the end of the year and what concessions might be required to make this happen. But, Didier said, the town was told that this isn’t a prerequisite and Cloverleaf is willing to wait until the end of the year if necessary.
https://www.ozaukeepress.com/content/massive-data-center-complex-planned-port
December 24, 2024
City of Port Washington Letter – NDAs
Letter from City of Port Washington Explaining the NDAs. “Earlier this year the City of Port Washington was approached by multiple regional and state level economic development organization who had been collaboratively working to attract global corporation to the State of WI. At that time, Port Washington was being explored as a location for a possible and significant economic development opportunity for the state WI.
https://www.facebook.com/YourHomePortWI/posts/dear-city-of-port-washington-residents-and-community-please-see-the-following-me/912915150980147/
December 24, 2024
City of Port Washington Letter – NDAs
Letter from City of Port Washington Explaining the NDAs. “Earlier this year the City of Port Washington was approached by multiple regional and state level economic development organization who had been collaboratively working to attract global corporation to the State of WI. At that time, Port Washington was being explored as a location for a possible and significant economic development opportunity for the state WI.
https://www.facebook.com/YourHomePortWI/posts/dear-city-of-port-washington-residents-and-community-please-see-the-following-me/912915150980147/
December 18, 2024
News Article
Rick Fellenz, a former town chairman and building inspector, said Tuesday that Jeff Hoffman, a principal with the Milwaukee commercial real estate company Cushman & Wakefield/Boerke, made an offer on his property this summer and again last week. Fellenz, who owns 25 acres on Highland Drive, said he was told that the company already has 1,800 acres under contract, with property owners being required to sign nondisclosure agreements. He said he’s been told that the company wants to annex the land to the City of Port in January and purchase the properties under contract in May. “They want to get this thing going fast,” Fellenz said. Port Mayor Ted Neitzke said Tuesday that the city does not have a plan for a development on the land. “The plans have not been solidified. We will know much more after the first of the year,” he said. When asked, Neitzke said he’s “not surprised” by talk of a proposed data center or other development. “We have been in conversation about that land for seven, eight months with lots of different people with lots of different ideas,” he said.
https://ozaukeepress.com/content/town-land-sought-sprawling-data-center
December 17, 2024
Common Council Meeting
Many public comments with concerns of Alderman Sigwart committee duties being removed. Additionally, people were wanting transparency of the development possibly being developed in the town. People stated they have received no information from the city council only rumors.
December 9, 2024
Port Washington neighbors demand transparency amid land development concerns
Port Washington neighbors demand transparency from City Hall amid land development concerns. Sigwart said that this all happened after he simply acknowledged that elected officials had signed a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) related to plans to possibly bring a microchip manufacturing facility to the area. “All of this became real secretive information that it appeared the mayor and the common council knew about, and we as citizens could not know about, and that made no sense because that was going to impact us a lot,” said Morrissey.
November 19, 2024
Common Council Meeting:
Public comment David Larson 223 Grandview Dr. Port Washington(he is Ozaukee County Board Supervisor). Excessive taxing in Port Washington. Concerns of new safety building. Ozaukee County Supervisor. $35 Million seems excessive. He mentions why can’t they make improvements and expansions to the existing building like Alderman Sigwart mentioned.
David states most of the alderman were initially against the building. However, when it decreased to $33 Million. Then the October meeting, the council unanimously approved the project.
October 31, 2024
Letter To Ozaukee Press
To Ozaukee Press: John Sigwart, my alderperson, has been stripped of all city committee assignments by Mayor Neitzke. This hurts us, the constituents who voted for him. Although Wisconsin statutes say nothing about committee appointments, they do state that “these issues are governed exclusively by local ordinances or bylaws.” According to what bylaws did the mayor and the Common Council act in denying Sigwart his committee assignments? Was the Council consulted regarding this act by the mayor? This smacks of misuse of power. To his credit, it was Sigwart who confirmed to Ozaukee Press that the aldermen signed a nondisclosure agreement with a company that was eyeing land in the Town of Port for a microchip production facility and would have sought annexation to the city. Was this a factor in the mayor’s action against him? Although a nondisclosure agreement is legal for public officials in Wisconsin, there are concerns about transparency when officials sign NDAs because they prevent the public from knowing important information related to government decisions. Does this not raise moral questions as to how business is conducted “on our behalf” in our city? Sigwart has successfully served Port Washington residents since 2017, long before the election of Mayor Neitzke. He is an outstanding person and representative. He has tried multiple times to text, email and phone the mayor for an explanation, but has received no answer as to why he has been stripped of committee assignments. I believe a call to action is needed by the citizens of Ward 7. We deserve better. Pat Morrissey Port Washington
August 19, 2024
News Article – Microchip company no longer buying Port Washington farmland; broker courts other buyers
August 2024
Port Washington City Council Meeting YouTube
2025 – 2034 Financial Outlook. At approximately 32minutes 18 seconds, Ted Mayor stated he reviewed the 4,000 page financial document. He addressed the development on page 7, line 8, of the growth factor of a conservative 1% increase across the board. He asked the team to consider the potential growth of city of Port with key performance indicators what would those percentages be. For example, he stated, if we did the following, this will be the revenue to help support future expenses. Mayor appreciates it was built conservatively but is wondering if they can consider if these development occurs on the north and south of town what is that revenue. The financial planner said this report was based on background information. If running optimistic projections could sometimes cause misleading impressions
April 6, 2024
Residents tell officials to fight microchip plant
Didier and town supervisors Gary Schlenvogt and Greg Welton said they are not among those choosing to sell their property. Although town officials have not been approached about the proposed development, Didier said, city and county officials may have been. He said he has not talked to Port Mayor Ted Neitzke about the proposal, but at the urging of the audience agreed to reach out to him
April 5, 2024
Residents tell officials to fight microchip plant
They say semiconductor facility would destroy Town of Port but officials caution they may be helpless to stop project
https://www.ozaukeepress.com/content/residents-tell-officials-fight-microchip-plant
May 31, 2024
Town of Port Washington neighbors are asked to sell acres of land; TMJ4 asks town leaders what they know
Town Chairman Mike Didier: “Correct yeah, no one has approached the town and people are putting the pieces together, connecting the dots and making assumptions that it is tied to the CHIPS Act grant that Congress passed and coming to a conclusion Whether it’s accurate or not, is yet to be determined.”
Didier said if someone applies for a commercial building permit today, they’d be denied.
“It would have to be changed or could be annexed to a neighboring community,” said Didier. “The zoning would have to change if this were to happen and I don’t feel like there’s an appetite for that at this point.”
Mike also said he would welcome new jobs and business to the area, but it’s too early to determine whether those will actually come through this mysterious project.
“It does feel a little early to be having conversations about something that may not materialize at all,” he said.
May 24, 2024
An unknown company is buying hundreds of acres of farmland in the Town of Port Washington
The town hasn’t been contacted by the buyer yet, Mike Didier, real estate agent and chairman of Port Washington’s town board, said. But any large semiconductor plant project would require town land being annexed into the City of Port Washington, he said.
May 16, 2024
Unnamed buyer trying to acquire hundreds of acres in Town of Port Washington
Didier learned residents had been approached by Hoffman, on behalf of the buyer, after hearing directly from the landowners themselves. All of the landowners he’s spoken to have been given information leading them to believe a microchip company is the type of business hoping to purchase the land, said Didier.
“That somehow leaked out and all the landowners are in agreement with that statement,” said Didier. “Of course, watching the news with the CHIPS Act grant, people are kind of putting two and two together, but it’s all speculation ultimately.”
“The only thing that appears to be known for sure is that some identity is writing offers to purchase lots of land in that section of the Town of Port,” said Didier.
https://biztimes.com/unnamed-buyer-eyes-hundreds-of-acres-of-land-in-the-town-of-port-washington/
May 15, 2024
News Article Land Buy Sparks Fear Town Port Washington
Town Chairman Mike Didier, who is a real estate agent, said, “It’s safe to say that offers are being written, and I believe a lot of land is already under contract.” Officials, residents say unknown buyer is working to secure more than 1,000 acres of mostly farmland; believe it could be for sprawling high-tech manufacturing complex. “If you look north from Milwaukee on Google Maps you pretty quickly come to the Town of Port and say, ‘Look at all that open land,’” Didier said. “It’s flat and clear-cut from back in the day, and if you’re a manufacturer, it’s relatively close to your source of employees and things like an airport in Milwaukee.”. When asked Tuesday if the city has been approached about a possible annexation for the project, Mayor Ted Neitzke said, “At this time, I don’t have any comment. I don’t know enough to comment.”
https://www.ozaukeepress.com/content/land-buy-sparks-fear-town-port