GIRARD — The city is the latest community in the Mahoning Valley wanting to place a moratorium on data centers, with city council giving second reading Monday to legislation putting a one-year moratorium in place.

Final reading on the legislation is scheduled for the July 13 meeting, after which the moratorium will immediately take effect.

Councilwoman Lily Martuccio, D-at Large, said the moratorium will allow for council and the administration to have more time to study the impact data centers will have on the community. Martuccio said once the moratorium is in place, it will allow officials to develop zoning guidelines to ensure public safety for any proposed projects.

Martuccio said officials need more time to look into data centers

“We support the other cities and townships that have moratoriums in place. We do not know what effect data centers will have on people and communities. I have read reports that people’s water has been ruined when data centers have been put in. People have complained of a humming noise from data centers that can be heard for a mile away. We need to do research on how this will affect our area,” Martuccio said.

Many other communities, such as Lordstown and Hubbard, also have moratoriums in place to allow for more time for research and to strengthen current zoning laws.

Officials from McDonald, Lordstown and Hubbard also have been to New Albany, where many data centers are located.

OTHER MORATORIUM

Data centers are not the only issue involving moratoriums as council also gave second reading to extend a moratorium on small box discount stores in the city.

Councilman Wes Steiner, D-at Large, said the city has several discount stores, but no grocery store.

He said the legislation, when passed, will place a two-year extension of the current moratorium on having any more dollar stores located in the city.

“We would like to have a Giant Eagle, Sparkle Market or IGA in the city for the residents. We need a grocery store,” Steiner said.

Steiner said while discount stores are fine for communities, there needs to be a limit on how many.

Also Monday, council defeated by a 4-2 vote legislation that would have allowed city officials to apply for a $22,000 Ohio Nature Works grant for exercise equipment for the parks.

Councilman James Clark, D-2nd Ward, said he has heard from many residents who do not want the exercise equipment but would rather have a splash pad or something else for the parks.

“The citizens who have responded overwhelmingly do not want this,” Clark said of a social media post that had many responses from residents.

Resident Vernon Mitchell said he would like to see swingsets for Hartzell Park.

Clark said the funds could be used for playground equipment.

Steiner said he said he spoke with Park Supervisor Mike Cardiero, who said the exercise equipment would be used by the public.

Councilman Todd Latell, D-at Large, said he was concerned that there is a local match required for the nature grant, noting the money could be used elsewhere.

Voting against seeking the grant were council members Latell, Clark, John Moliterno and Thomas Grumley, while Martuccio and Steiner voted in support of seeking the grant.

Moliterno said he would like to have KO Consulting attend a future council meeting to discuss what grants they have obtained for the city.

PUCO REPORT

Mayor Mark Zuppo said he has been in contact with the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio to see if a report has been completed on what caused a house to explode in the city on April 30.

No one was injured in the explosion, but the home had to be demolished because of the damage.

He said PUCO officials told him they are still working on the report and gathering information from Enbridge, which has been digging in the city for fiber optic line installation.