A Saturday publication of the agendas for next Tuesday’s Luther Board of Trustees meetings revealed a couple of items about data centers; however, LRN has confirmed that there is NOT an application filed with the town by Beltline Energy for its controversial project teased a year ago.
Click here for the agenda, generally sent on Mondays, if you did not receive it via email from the town’s notification system.
The data center-related items are:
14. Consideration, discussion, and possible action to approve an ordinance amending the zoning ordinance to establish a Specific Use Permit process for data centers.
15. Consideration, discussion, and possible action to approve a moratorium on the rezoning for and issuance of building permits for data center, large load users, or other large-scale industrial projects.
Trading brief emails during a busy weekend, Town Manager Rian Harkins shared a little background on the items.
About Item 14, he said, “The SUP ordinance is similar to what Yukon has previously passed. It was drafted by staff after seeing so many discussions around the community.”
Yukon’s amended SUP ordinance includes the following, according to LRN research:
- Water Usage Restrictions: The city has stated that only non-potable (reclaimed) water would be allowed for cooling purposes, with potable water restricted to standard business needs.
- Infrastructure Costs: The city has maintained that all supporting infrastructure costs must be borne by the developer, not through city funds.
- Power Supply: On-site power generation by the developer is not permitted, and the project is contingent on [OG&E] being able to provide necessary power.
Regarding Luther’s agenda Item 15, Harkins said, ”The moratorium request was from residents and based on recent actions of a similar nature by the City of OKC.”
Approved by the OKC City Council on April 21, 2026, “The moratorium immediately halts the acceptance of new applications, the processing of, and the issuance of rezoning requests and permits related to the construction or expansion of data centers through the end of 2026, (or earlier if amendments to the City’s Zoning Code regarding data centers are approved by City Council.)”
“The temporary pause on new data centers will give the City more time to understand how they affect our community’s resources, such as energy use, water demand and land use,” Oklahoma City City Manager Craig Freeman said. “This brief pause ensures we move forward strategically, so future projects align with our community’s needs and support sustainable, long-term growth.”
A similar citizen’s petition calling for a data center moratorium in Luther circulated a year ago.
Time to Talk Budget
Other items at Tuesday’s Regular Meeting of the Luther Board of Trustees include a first look at the new fiscal year budget set to take effect in July 2026. The town’s current budget is approximately $1.4 million, with the largest portion of revenue coming from sales taxes and use (internet sales) taxes on dollars spent locally (or shipped to us at addresses within town limits).
For context, here’s a quick snapshot of the monthly collections reported by the Oklahoma Tax Commission for May 2026 for Luther and surrounding municipalities from smallest to largest.
May 2026 Sales Tax
- Luther: $53,670 (2025 $58,824) Rate: 4%
- Arcadia: $58,017 (2025 $59,654) Rate: 4%
- Wellston: $68,974 (2025 $52,686) Rate: 4%
- Jones: $155,277 (2025 $122,796) Rate: 5%
- Harrah: $327,462 (2025 $392,257) Rate: 4%
- Guthrie: $831,373 (2025 $773,682) Rate: 3.75%
- Choctaw: $983,135 (2025 $758,111) Rate: 5.25%
- Edmond: $7,393,587 (2025 $7,105,267 Rate: 3.75%
May 2026 USE Tax (internet sales at the same rate)
- Wellston: $11,312 (2025 $12,847)
- Luther: $24,803 (2025 $19,101)
- Arcadia: $25,005 (2025 $34,087)
- Jones: $71,841 (2025 $79,419)
- Harrah: $87,673 (2025 $95,117)
- Guthrie: $121,019 (2025$172,503)
- Choctaw: $232,591 (2025 $160,652)
- Edmond: $1,512,870 (2025 $1,642,561)
Meeting Space Refresh
The May 12, 2026, Town Board meetings will be at 7 pm at 108 S Main, Luther. Attendees will walk into a “refreshed” space made possible by generous donations of lumber, trim, labor, money, and paint as well as volunteer hours from several local businesses and others. This is “Phase One” of the project, ready just in time for meeting week. Thanks especially to Trustee Cindy Taylor, who spearheaded the project.
Local businesses and volunteers pitched into to refresh the meeting room at Luther Town Hall 
The Town of Luther was represented at the State Capitol recently at “Route 66 Day” and “Main Street Day.” A recent donation from Langston University led to the new planters on Main Street, and volunteers refreshing Town Hall.
Return of the Pride Alumni Weekend, Third Saturday Market, and a Parade
The Return of the Pride alumni weekend is Friday and Saturday. Find the details here. Highlights include the Saturday morning downtown market that coincides with Luther’s Third Saturday market – with more vendors, music, and festivities – and a parade at 10 am.
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