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MCDONALD -- Village residents are urging council and the administration to conduct public meetings on how they would prepare for a potential data center proposal, including developing a plan with clear guidelines and restrictions before a data center expresses interest in locating there.
Residents said they are particularly concerned if a data center wants to locate at the former McDonald Steel property.
Mayor Ray Lewis told more than 15 residents at Wednesday's meeting that the planning commission has been working on a plan to have guidelines in place for data centers and other businesses that may want to locate in the village.
He said once a final draft is completed, there will be public hearings for citizen input and discussion.
"The village will be transparent in this process," Lewis said.
Resident Elizabeth Johnson, whose career has been in risk assessment for the health industry, spoke on behalf of the residents.
She said many communities are addressing data centers, noting "the public eyes and ears are opening up."
"People are charged up and concerned about data centers. We want council to keep the public informed of what the planning commission and council are working on," she said.
While Girard, Lordstown and several other communities have moratoriums in place, McDonald has taken no action on a moratorium.
Johnson said a moratorium can be beneficial to provided the needed time for officials to do research and get a plan in place on data center restrictions.
"There can be a one-year pause to gather information and provide the information to the public," she said
Johnson said with McDonald being only a one-square-mile area community, a plan needs to be created to address the health risks of data centers.
She said diesel emissions are a concern for a small community and nearby businesses.
"You need to build a coalition of support from the residents by keeping us informed," Johnson said.
Lewis said the village has not taken a stance on a moratorium.
Officials said there is an empty industrial park on the northern part of the village where the mills closed down.
Resident Bill Johnson said whoever does locate at the industrial park needs to get it cleaned up.
Lewis said the area is a brownfield, and whatever is located there, the owners will be required to remediate the property.
"We control what we can. We have no control over what the EPA decides," he said.
He told residents that there may be discussion at the Aug. 18 committee meetings about data centers or a moratorium.
He said the planning commission will address the matter first and then hold public hearings, and forward their recommendation on data centers to village council to vote on
"It is my goal for us to do our due diligence to make sure there is zero harm to our residents. We want to do this right." Lewis said.
The mayor said he has traveled to New Albany, Cleveland and Columbus to see data centers and attend meetings on such centers.
SAFETY SERVICES LEVY
Council gave final reading for placing a 4.5-mill safety services levy on the Nov. 3 general election ballot.
The five-year additional levy is projected to generate $310,000 annually to sustain day-to-day operations and fund police, fire and emergency medical services.