Thank you to everyone that attended last night's Part 1 - Mason County Zoning Board Public Meeting on the proposed data center text amendment. We ask that you join us at the Maysville Community and Technical College once again tonight, 10/10, @ 5:30 PM in the Fields Auditorium for the public comment portion of the meeting.
Additionally, Thursday, 10/11, @ 6:00 PM in the Mason County High School Cafeteria, Guest Speaker: Bryce Gustafson of the Citizens Action Coalition (Indiana) will be sharing with We Are Mason County and the community how to carry out interventions and campaigns regarding Data Centers. Citizens Action Coalition of Indiana have successfully stopped data centers from coming to their community. Please join us for this educational session that is free and available for the public to attend.
Here is a brief recap of last night: Representatives of the proposed Fortune 50 hyperscale data center campus project, Eastern Kentucky Power, and Mason county officials individually spoke in favor of the development and provided assurances of protection on water usage, noise levels, and other concerns. However, these concerns were, as they have been, ONLY SPOKEN WORD. The address of issues and concerns was welcome. However, Maysville and Mason County officials provided glowing remarks for the developer while issuing stark warnings to citizens that the rejection of this project could be the downfall of our county as well as making emotion-driven pleas citing the drivable commutes many have with jobs outside of the county while residing in the county.
Janet Garrison, We are Mason County Treasurer and Researcher, provided a presentation addressing the representatives of EKP, local officials, and the undisclosed developer's onsite representative. Her presentation included her detailed research and conclusions based on that research with proposals for protections and considerations by our local officials. We are Mason County's legal representative, Hank Graddy, of our group, We are Mason County, stated protections must be put in place now and officially established under a similar agreement to a Community Protection and Benefit Agreement (CPBA). He also cited language which would better protect our county in terms of development locations attempting to protect our county's prime farmland that cannot be replaced. Additionally providing exact language needed to establish protections and contextual information on these recommendations.
A handful of public comments were shared but more will be included during tonight's meeting.