Residents and commissioners spar over sheriff camera purchase and concerns about AI data centers

Public commenters on April meeting day told the Franklin County Board of Commissioners they feared the sheriff's proposed camera equipment could be misused and expressed broader concerns about AI data centers and zoning.

Herb Dalloway, who identified himself as from Borough Chambersburg, thanked the commission for pulling agenda item 3.06 and said he worried about the sheriff's relationship with federal immigration enforcement. "I do not trust our sheriff's department," he said, urging the board to provide oversight on how new equipment would be used.

Valerie Jordan of Fayetteville urged the county to protect homes and farms by limiting AI data centers to industrial zones using conditional-use rules. She told commissioners the county should map where centers may locate and said funds earmarked for the equipment purchase would be better spent helping local abuse victims.

Kim Wirtz of Chambersburg said the county cannot unilaterally prevent facilities a municipality permits but asked whether the county could use economic or legislative levers to discourage data-center siting.

Commissioner Flannery, who joined virtually, told the board that a public meeting on data centers is scheduled for Tuesday the 28th and that county legal staff and a zoning expert will answer questions about what the county can legally do. He also pushed back on criticisms of Sheriff Seitz, saying he has known the sheriff for years and that "he cares nothing more than the safety of our community and our community residents."

The board moved to pull agenda item 3.06 for further review before taking any formal action. The chair then approved the amended agenda by voice vote.

What happens next: Commissioners said they will hold a follow-up public meeting with a zoning presentation and county legal staff to clarify the county's options on data-center siting and to investigate the sheriff-equipment item before it returns to a future agenda.