LORDSTOWN — Members of the village’s Board of Public Affairs are in the process of moving to a new location at the former Lordstown Library.

Chris Peterson, chairman of the BPA board, said at Tuesday’s village council meeting the move will take the office from the administration building to the vacant library building. He said once the move is complete, residents will be able to come to the building to pay their water and sewer bills. Peterson said the BPA also deals with trash collection contracts.

Peterson said not much work needed to be done to the interior of the building, but a generator will be needed as backup for the equipment and computers.

He said what is proposed is to use the generator from a water booster station in the village, which will be closed after a booster station is relocated.

Village officials said the use of the former library building has been discussed since the Warren-Trumbull County Public Library closed the village site last June. Different options were considered for which departments would use the building.

DATA CENTER CONCERN

In other matters, Canfield resident Susan Robbie spoke to council about her concern of “a data center rush.” She said she has done research on data centers, and there is a push to have more and more, with such centers draining water from the municipality or township where they are located.

Robbie praised council for the 180-day moratorium approved earlier this month to allow for more research into data centers.

“I am grateful for the 180-day moratorium. The village needs the ability to do its due diligence necessary for proper research and permits. We need to have a voice when dealing with data centers,” she said.

She said she is “pro-business,” but “anti-resource drain” and the 180 days will allow for research on infrastructure and tax revenue stabilization in other areas that have data centers. Robbie said similar data centers, like the one proposed by Bristolville 25 LLC, are located in other states, such as New Jersey.

Bristolville 25 LLC has filed a lawsuit against the village, claiming they filed necessary paperwork for permits with the zoning department last fall for a data center in the village before the moratorium was passed by council Jan. 5.

The matter is being heard by the Ohio Supreme Court.

MORATORIUM COMMITTEE

Councilman Mark McGrail, who was not at the meeting but sent information to Mayor Jackie Woodward, said the moratorium committee has been discussing data centers and the impact they have on communities, such as use of electrical power and water, loud noise, bright lights and pollution, as well as impacts on safety services.

“The committee is gathering information for future discussions,” McGrail said.

He said the committee also is looking at the moratorium on truck terminals in the village, which expires in March, and whether that needs to be extended.

In other action, council voted against entering into a gas aggregation contract with Eastern Power and Gas LLC.

Woodward said the rate on Tuesday was 4.8 per mcf, but noted since this is winter, the rate fluctuates more and could change by the next day. Councilwoman Jessica Blank said Niles has a rate of 4.6 per mcf and Newton pays 4.7 per mcf.

The agreement was to be for 36 months, with the minimum contract length being 12 months. Woodward said while the village would be locked into the contract, residents would have the option to “opt in” or “opt out.”

Officials said they will look at possible other options or see what the rate will be within two weeks.

In other matters, council:

• Approved the Ohio Department of Transportation passing preliminary participatory legislation to proceed with resurfacing of Salt Springs Road from state Route 45 to the village’s eastern corporation limits.

• Heard from police Chief Brent Milhoan that the Lordstown Energy Center made a $3,000 donation to the police department’s food drive and $3,000 to Shop with a Cop.

• Heard from Milhoan that Tractor Supply in Warren is no longer able to donate dog food for the police dog, so the department will purchase it for $840 per year.

• Heard from Planning / Zoning Administrator Kellie Bordner that there were 70 zoning permits issued in 2025.

• Heard from Streets / Park Superintendent Martin Nelder the staff has painted the recreation center and installed new LED lighting.