A sign saying “Stop the Data Center” sits amongst campaign signs on the corner of Putnam Street Thursday. (Photo by Amber Phipps)

MARIETTA — There were differing viewpoints on the proposed data center in Waterford during the Washington County Commission meeting Thursday.

Since the announcement of the proposed development during a meeting in January, various individuals have continued to attend the weekly meetings to ask questions, voice concerns and share opinions.

Washington County resident Lois Morris asked about the proposed tax abatement for the data center in the county if that were to come into fruition.

“I think if Waterford were to have this, then they deserve the money for that real estate,” she said.

Schilling said Gov. Mike DeWine’s proposed budget last year included tax incentives offered to data centers, which the Ohio General Assembly did not agree with.

“Sen. Brian Chavez and Rep. Kevin Ritter is working on that … eliminating that sales tax exemption,” said Schilling. He said sales tax generates a revenue stream for the county which positively impacts the area.

When asked by Morris if the commissioners would reconsider the tax abatement, Schilling said there haven’t been any decisions made on anything.

“We’re evaluating what other communities are doing,” he said.

One individual, whose full name wasn’t immediately available, asked why the Waterford Township trustees were advised the 30-day moratorium on the construction of the proposed data center wouldn’t be as effective.

“For this particular situation, it wouldn’t be as impactful as they are in other communities because we have no underlying zoning in Waterford,” county Prosecutor Nicole Coil said. “Normally, there is a pause to be able to consider revisions and amendments to the zoning.”

Coil said moratoriums can be effective to pause a situation, reevaluate the framework and make adjustments.

“It wouldn’t be very impactful in this situation because there’s really nothing to do with it,” she said, adding she wasn’t necessarily advising the trustees to stop.

County resident Jennifer Duskey said based on the survey she conducted, over 90% of residents were opposed to the data center. She asked how the commissioners felt about the community being against the proposed project.

“We understand, and we’ve been pressing the developer to have a public meeting and to be able to answer these things,” said Schilling.

Despite the opposition, David Bland, a political director for the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades said there have been too many business closures in the area and the data center would provide jobs and prevent people from having to drive out of town for work.

“As long as they can build this data plant for the local people, that’s my issue because we want local people,” said Bland. “These data plants are coming, so if you shove them out of here they’re going to go to the next county over.”

Southeastern Ohio Port Authority Executive Director Jesse Roush advised people concerned about issues like the data center or injection wells to learn about the topics.

“I would encourage the people in the community right now that are in opposition to this project to reach out, be respectful and seek first to understand, verify and then trust,” he said.

Roush said he has ideological differences with Muskingum Township resident George Banziger, who has frequented the meetings to discuss injection wells.

“This man has always been very respectful about reaching out to me and seeking first to understand before rushing to judgment,” he said. “Ironinically, we’re sitting across the aisle from one another this morning and we probably have political ideologies that are across the aisle from one another.”

Banziger asked the commissioners if they would request public records from the Ohio Division of Natural Resources to see if the state was monitoring the pressure volume and waste in the injection wells.

“The problem is the migration after the brine is injected,” said Banziger.

Commissioner Charlie Schilling asked for Banziger to send an email to the commissioners outlining his concerns and what he was asking of them.

Marietta resident John Whistler questioned a donation he said he found online the Washington County Foster Families Foundation donated $1,000 to Commissioner Eddie Place’s campaign.

“I will also note that you have attended none of the meetings where many of your constituents have gathered to express their concerns and listen to expert opinion,” Marietta resident Barbara Stewart said. “I remind you that you represent every citizen of Washington County.”

County Treasurer Tammy Bates said she is the campaign treasurer for Place and there was no payment made from the organization to his campaign; rather, Place made a $1,000 donation to them.

Director of Washington County Job and Family Services Flite Freimann said he’s a board member on foster families and there was a donation by Place to the organization.

“I believe in the Foster Families Foundation and absolutely gave them $1,000,” said Place.

Roush said there were false statements made by the public he wanted to clear up.

“(There were statements) that the county gave us the bond to purchase the AMP Ohio site on State Route 7 and then turned around and invested in the data,” said Roush. “This is categorically false.”

Roush said those claims were circulating social media and it was inaccurate.

Amber Phipps can be reached at aphipps@newsandsentinel.com