by Sarah DeMaranville
Geneseo Current
KEWANEE, Ill. — Public records obtained by The Geneseo Current reveal that a developer associated with a proposed Kewanee data center contacted Mayor Gary Moore weeks before the mayor publicly called for the city to begin discussing data center regulations.
The records include a voicemail from Pawel Nowak of Nowak Securities, dated July 1, 2026, at 4:01 p.m. The communication preceded Moore's July 27 remarks encouraging the City Council to consider regulations for data centers and his August 10 statement that the city had not been approached about such a development.
The timeline raises questions about when city officials first became aware of potential interest in establishing a data center in Kewanee.
Data Center Discussions Begin in July
At the July 27 City Council meeting, Moore introduced the subject of data center development during his mayoral communications.
According to the official meeting minutes, Moore said he wanted to begin discussing data centers despite there being no current plans for such facilities within city limits.
The minutes state that Moore felt it was important to begin the discussion in case the city was approached by a developer.
Two weeks later, on August 10, the council unanimously approved an ordinance establishing regulations for data centers within the city's M-2 Manufacturing District.
During that meeting, Moore stated that the city had not been approached by anyone about establishing a data center. Council members also indicated they were not actively seeking such developments but wanted regulations in place should a proposal emerge.
The ordinance passed 5-0.
Developer Presents Plans in October
On October 12, Nowak appeared before the Kewanee City Council to discuss plans for a small retail data center in a former Walworth building.
The property, located at 324 N. Main St., includes former industrial buildings extending toward Grace Avenue.
Nowak described a proposal to use part of an existing building for data center operations, potentially serving customers such as banks, schools and hospitals. Other portions of the building could be developed into retail space.
The presentation brought a specific data center proposal into public discussion approximately two and a half months after Moore first raised the subject.
FOIA Requests Reveal Earlier Communication
On October 14, The Geneseo Current submitted a Freedom of Information Act request to Kewanee City Clerk Jules Smith seeking records related to the Nowak Securities proposal.
Smith responded that afternoon, stating:
"We have not received any proposals, plans, applications, or documents regarding any proposed or potential data centers. Our Council Meeting last night was the first time the Council was approached by someone interested in establishing a data center."
The following morning, October 15, The Current submitted a supplemental FOIA request.
At 1:57 p.m. that day, the city responded with additional records, including a voicemail from Nowak, copies of the city's data center ordinance and City Council meeting minutes that were already publicly available online.
On October 16, Smith confirmed the voicemail's date and time in an email:
"The attached voicemail was from July 1st, 2026, at 4:01pm."
The confirmation establishes that Nowak contacted the mayor 26 days before Moore publicly introduced data center discussions and 40 days before the August 10 meeting at which Moore said the city had not been approached.
Questions Remain About Earlier Contact
The existence of the July 1 voicemail establishes an earlier communication between Nowak and the mayor, but its significance depends on what was discussed.
The available information does not establish whether the voicemail specifically addressed the proposed data center, whether Moore returned the call or whether additional communications occurred before the city's public discussions.
There is also a distinction between an informal inquiry and a formal development proposal. Smith's October 14 response stated that the city had not received project plans, applications or other proposal documents. Her statement that the October council meeting represented the first approach to the council does not necessarily exclude earlier contact with the mayor individually.
Nevertheless, the newly obtained records establish that communication from Nowak preceded the city's consideration and adoption of data center regulations.
According to the Kasey Mitchell, Kewanee City Manager, Nowak left Moore a voicemail asking about the property's zoning. Moore indicated he believed it was industrial but directed Nowak to city staff for confirmation. The City also acknowledged previous telephone conversations between the two men concerning potential retail development at the location. The Current has requested documentation of such previous conversations.
The City further confirmed that Nowak contacted Moore during the week leading up to the October 13 meeting to express interest in discussing a potential data center with the Council. Because Nowak could not confirm his attendance before the agenda was finalized, he addressed the Council during public comments.
A Note About Our Coverage: While The Geneseo Current remains focused on Geneseo, we are expanding our coverage of significant developments throughout Henry County, particularly those involving data centers, battery energy storage systems (BESS), alternative energy, and carbon sequestration. These issues often extend beyond municipal boundaries and can have broader implications for our communities. Our goal is to keep Geneseo-area readers informed about developments that may shape the region's future.
