The story of how a data center arrived in Iola

In this week’s episode of “Registered,” Tim Stauffer talks with Iola City Administrator Matt Rehder about how a cold call from Vine Energy set the wheels in motion for what is Iola’s first data center.

Data centers come with controversy and concern. Rehder talks on the record about his views on the project, the concern of rising utility rates, and how the data center fits in with the city’s vision for the future.

In a wide-ranging conversation that covers all this, plus more on public utilities, economic development, the rebuild of U.S 54 and more, Rehder offers a “state of the city” and reflects on nearly five years at the helm.