The short version
- On July 8 we asked two things: Has anyone signed a non-disclosure agreement (NDA), a contract promising to keep a developer's plans secret? And do you have any records about data centers?
- 3 governments turned over records: the City of Kankakee, Kankakee County and the Village of Essex.
- 9 said they have nothing that matches the request.
- 1 has not answered: the Village of Sun River Terrace.
- 9 have not been asked yet. Eight small villages only take requests by mail. Bourbonnais was left out on purpose because it had already put data centers on hold.
- Who turned over records?
- Who says they have nothing?
- Who hasn't answered?
- Who haven't we asked?
- How does this work?
Who turned over records?
Three governments sent documents. Here is what came back.
The city sent 29 pages of staff emails. In one, dated June 25, the city's planning director wrote that she had taken general calls from site selectors
asking about the city's zoning rules. In a follow-up she wrote: Make sure residents understand that I have not had inquiries about any specific projects.
On July 22 the city told a resident it had received no applications or proposals for a data center, and that data centers are not an allowed use in any city zoning district. The city's letter did not address the NDA part of our request.
Several county offices answered, including the Sheriff's Office, County Administration and the State's Attorney's Office. The Sheriff's Office and County Administration sent records, and County Administration added more on July 22.
The village sent 22 files: a letter extending the timeline on a proposed annexation, the village's agreement with its outside law firm, a professional fee agreement involving Constellation, screenshots of the village president's text messages, and a year of board meeting minutes.
Only one email came back, forwarded from a personal account. On Aug. 1 we asked the village for what was missing. The clerk wrote Aug. 4 that she had received our requests and was collecting the records. Nothing more has arrived.
Who says they have nothing?
These nine told us, in writing, that they have no NDAs and no data center records that match the request.
The deputy clerk answered first. The village's lawyers then confirmed in a formal letter that no records exist.
Answered through the township's lawyer after a follow-up. He added that the township has no zoning power and has not been approached by any entity seeking to develop property in the Township for the purpose of constructing a data center.
Answered by the village clerk after a follow-up sent to her directly: none of the requested documents.
The village's FOIA officer answered the next day (request No. 26-155): There are no responsive documents to your request.
No documents that match the request.
We have none of these agreements.
No NDAs or confidentiality agreements, and no data center records.
The village clerk: no such documents or records exist for either question.
Answered through the village's law firm: no records for either question.
Who hasn't answered?
The village clerk wrote on July 13 that she had the request and would search for records. We have not heard from the village since. The legal deadline passed in July.
Who haven't we asked yet, and why?
These villages do not take records requests by email. They need a letter by mail or in person.
The email address listed for the clerk bounced. The village's own records-request page says mail or drop-off only.
Mail only.
Mail only.
Mail only.
Mail only.
Mail only.
Mail only. Shares a clerk with Aroma Park.
Mail only.
The Village Board had already acted before we sent the requests. On June 15, 2026, it passed a moratorium, a temporary pause on data center proposals, that runs through Jan. 31, 2027. The two general questions above would not tell us what led to that vote, so Bourbonnais will get its own, more specific request.
How does this work?
What law did we use?
The Illinois Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140). Anyone can ask a local government for its records. It has to answer within five business days, or ten if it tells you in writing that it needs more time.
What exactly did we ask for?
First, any NDA or confidentiality agreement that any official or employee signed with a developer or company over the past five years. Second, any records about data centers: applications, permits, zoning requests, tax breaks, water and power studies, emails, meeting minutes, letters of intent and land deals.
What if a government doesn't answer, or holds records back?
We follow up in writing, usually with the clerk by name. If that doesn't work, we can ask the Illinois Attorney General's Public Access Counselor to review it.
Does "no records" mean nothing is going on?
Not necessarily. It means the government told us it holds no documents that match what we asked for. We report what each one said, in its own words where we can.
Correction, Sept. 24, 2026: An earlier version of this page said the Village of Manteno provided records. It did not. Manteno answered on July 9 that it had no records matching our request.
What changed since July 24: Bradley, Bourbonnais Township and Herscher, which this page listed as overdue, have all answered that they have no records. The City of Kankakee sent its records on Aug. 13. The Village of Essex sent records on July 31.
We update this page as answers come in.