Topeka…data center company cancels in-person meeting

By Daesha Gear

Published: Jul. 15, 2026 at 6:36 PM CDT

TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) - A Topeka couple says a representative from Compass Datacenters walked away from a scheduled in-person meeting after 13 NEWS crew arrived, raising questions about transparency surrounding a proposed data center near their family land.

Ben and Carol Marple own property just off Southwest 77th Street and Burlingame Road — it’s land Ben Marple said has been owned by his family since 1857.

“We’ve had the original 80 that was homesteaded from my ancestors in 1857, and they were Baptist missionaries before Topeka was Topeka,” he said.