Trending
NILES – One Trumbull County city made its voice heard Tuesday on data centers being banned within its limits, but another one might not be too far behind.
Niles City Council at Wednesday’s meeting approved an ordinance extending a temporary moratorium on the granting or issuing of new permits and the receipt or processing of applications for permits regarding data centers within the city’s corporate limits. The extension will run 180 days.
The move comes weeks after a roundtable, where Councilman Aaron Johnstone, D-2nd Ward, said officials have been meeting regularly with a zoning consultant that city council hired, adding that they have language with which they're comfortable.
Johnstone, who suggested the extension, said that just because it’s in place would not mean officials would need the entire 180-day period.
A public hearing has been scheduled at 5 p.m. Dec. 2 to discuss amending the city’s zoning code regarding data center regulation.
Council President Doug Sollitto noted Hubbard’s data center ban, which overwhelmingly passed by a margin of 76% to 24%, according to unofficial and incomplete results from the Trumbull County Board of Elections on Tuesday.
Hubbard residents collected more than 750 signatures - nearly twice the minimum 370 required - in July for an initiative allowing Hubbard residents to decide whether they want to keep or outright ban data centers in the city.
“So they’re going to be pursuing it now in Niles, where they only need roughly 400 signatures to get it on the ballot in Niles,” Sollitto said. “So they gotta wait for the gubernatorial race – see how many people voted in the governor’s election – somewhere between 4,000 and 6,000 would be 400 or 600, if they only need 10% to put it on the ballot.”
Sollitto said after the meeting that Conserve Ohio and Kristin Pishotti, a Niles school teacher, are working to organize the petition in Niles, which will need to be turned in by July 1 to reach the November 2027 ballot.
In other action, council:
* Passed an ordinance amending Codified Ordinance No. 925.03(a) by increasing the rates charged for the use of the sanitary sewer system for the years 2027 through 2029.
* Passed an ordinance authorizing the service director to advertise for bids and enter into contract for wastewater treatment plant sludge hauling for 2027.
* Passed an ordinance authorizing the service director to advertise for bids and enter into contract for wastewater treatment plant polymer for sludge for 2027.
* Passed an ordinance authorizing the service director to advertise for bids and enter into contract for wastewater treatment plant chemicals for 2027.
* Passed a resolution authorizing the service director to issue a request for qualifications for engineering consulting services to provide technical support for the city’s pretreatment program.
* Passed a resolution authorizing the service director to issue a request for qualifications to support, program, manage, and troubleshoot SCADA systems as well as PLCs as a preferred vendor for the wastewater treatment plant and pump stations for the years 2027 and 2028.
* Passed a resolution authorizing the service director to issue a request for qualifications for engineering services for 2027.
* Passed a resolution authorizing the service director to issue a request for qualifications for the Niles Middle School engineering services for the Safe Routes to School Grant.
* Passed an ordinance establishing payroll periods, pay frequencies and pay dates for employees and officials of the city and authorizing the city auditor to administer such payroll schedules.
* Passed an ordinance authorizing the disposal of an obsolete vehicle by internet auction on GovDeals.com.
* Passed an ordinance approving a “then and now” payment request for Concrete Couture Co. for repair of an emergency water main break.
* Passed an ordinance approving a “then and now” payment request for Flock Safety for emergency billing adjustment.
* Passed an ordinance authorizing an appropriation budget transfer for the sewer department.
* Passed an ordinance authorizing the purchase of a 2027 Dodge Durango pursuit vehicle through state purchasing and authorizing an appropriation budget transfer for the purchase.
* Passed an ordinance authorizing cash transfers for all capital project funds.
* Passed a resolution authorizing the auditor to enter into agreements for the 2027 healthcare contracts with Mutual Health Services and all contracts thereof.
* Passed an ordinance authorizing the auditor to implement an accounts receivable module with the current accounting software with Software Solutions and authorizing the appropriation of funds from multiple unappropriated funds to the technology account.