Carroll County extends data‑center moratorium for 100 days while staff gathers technical information

County planning staff requested and commissioners agreed to add a 100‑day extension of the moratorium on data center development to the consent agenda so the county can gather more technical information and draft potential regulations.

Community Development Director Ben Skipper said technology and best practices related to data centers are changing rapidly — especially water‑use and recycling approaches — and that staff will attend a seminar in Atlanta and report back. "Before we go waiting off into something without all the information... I will be attending a seminar next month which is supposed to have more of the latest and greatest and I will report back from that seminar in Atlanta," Skipper said.

At least one commissioner emphasized there is no completed draft policy and that the extension is intended to permit deliberation, not to conceal a pre‑existing plan. Commissioners noted Georgia‑level interest in data center policy and stressed the county’s limited authority in some areas; staff confirmed the moratorium extension is a pause to gather information and draft proposed local language, not an adoption of a final rule.

The board instructed staff to place a 100‑day extension on consent and to return earlier if staff completes a draft before that period elapses.