Residents tell Richland County commissioners they want clarity and a moratorium on proposed Franklin Township data center

At the May 12 meeting of the Richland County Board of Commissioners, Pam Taylor, an organizer of a local petition group, told the board residents are concerned about a proposed data center and ancillary development announced to Franklin Township residents in mid‑April.

Taylor said a Facebook group and an organizing petition grew rapidly after a presentation by Sean Cutter of Energy Acres on April 15. She told the board the local group now has about 750 members and that petition organizers had gathered nearly 1,000 signatures in Richland County in about three weeks. Taylor said residents fear 24/7 noise, light pollution and declines in property values and urged officials to consider a moratorium similar to actions taken by other jurisdictions.

Taylor cited a Mansfield News Journal story reporting behind‑the‑scenes pre‑annexation discussions and noted a mayoral email indicating use of the Community Improvement Corporation for negotiations; she said the reporting and the email left residents unsure whom to trust and asked the county to take action.

Commissioners responded that counties are not legislative bodies and therefore do not have the authority to impose a countywide moratorium on data centers; they said cities and townships are the appropriate entities to use zoning or moratorium measures. One commissioner read an email from a constituent saying Mayor Jody Perry had "terminated any potential relationship with the data center developer several weeks ago," and said the county supports the mayor's decision.

Taylor also referenced state legislation (House Bill 646 in the transcript) and other states' temporary bans or study commissions on data centers as context; commissioners said they would refer residents to the city and township officials for zoning or moratorium inquiries but did not take a board action to impose a countywide restriction.

The public comment period closed after the board answered questions and acknowledged the petition materials.