Newly released emails obtained through an open records request indicate City of Rossville officials were aware of plans surrounding Walker County’s sale of four acres at 2 Bulldog Drive to Chattanooga-based technology company BridgTRK months before the transaction was finalized.
The emails, first obtained by WRCB-TV, do not contradict Rossville Mayor Jonathan Lassetter’s assertion that the city was not notified the sale had officially closed until after the transaction was completed Monday. However, they do show city officials were included in discussions about the proposed development well before the closing.
The sale has drawn public attention amid concerns from some Walker County residents that the site could become a data center. BridgTRK officials have repeatedly rejected that characterization, saying the property is too small for a hyperscale data center and that the planned operation will instead house secure data-processing equipment.
The property includes the former Rossville High School track.
According to the released emails, BridgTRK co-founder Joe Morgan wrote to several officials on April 8, including Rossville City Clerk Russanna Jenkins, stating, “As I understand, the city has agreed to re-zoning after we come to an agreement for purchase.”
Jenkins responded two days later, writing, “That is my understanding as well Mr. Morgan, we look forward to working with you.”
Speaking by phone Friday, Lassetter said Jenkins’ response should not be interpreted as the city agreeing to rezone the property for the project.
“We just can’t make a verbal, behind-the-computer-screen confirmation,” Lassetter said. “If the city clerk is saying that, it’s definitely referring to the process. Do we rezone? Yes, we do, but did we tell him we actually would? No.”
Lassetter said he has never denied that the city was aware discussions were taking place, only that officials were informed after the sale had been finalized.
“We knew there were talks with the county, the Joint Development Authority and Mr. Morgan,” Lassetter said. “But as far as formal, sit-down discussions on anything, there was no meeting that the city attended.”
The mayor said the project must still go through Rossville’s rezoning process before construction can move forward. That process will include public hearings before the planning and zoning commission, followed by a vote of the Rossville City Council.
Earlier this week, Lassetter issued a statement saying the city was informed the property sale had closed only after BridgTRK representatives addressed the Rossville City Council on July 13.
He also questioned Walker County’s decision to sell the property after previously denying the city’s request to use the site as a fire department training facility. Lassetter said the county had cited concerns about potential impacts on nearby residents when rejecting that proposal.
BridgTRK’s plans call for construction of an approximately 1,100-square-foot facility using two standard 40-foot shipping containers. Company co-founders say the Rossville location will replace an existing operation in Madison, Wisconsin, while a separate Portland, Oregon, operation will eventually relocate to Las Vegas.
The company has said the Rossville facility will process data but is not a traditional data center and will not require large amounts of water or electricity typically associated with hyperscale data centers.