After what seemed like a heated game of verbal table tennis at the Carmi City Council meeting, the White County Board meeting was next Tuesday night.
The board members had a short agenda for the night, including approving a moratorium for data centers. A moratorium is a temporary pause on activity until more information can be learned or a new plan can be made. Illinois is the third-largest data center area in the country, with 220 operational facilities.
During public comments, it was asked multiple times about the moratorium and what the board would do if approached about a data center. Bellwether Representative Dustin Harmon, along with all White County Board members, vehemently expressed their hard pass on any interest in data centers entering the county. Unfortunately for White County, it must abide by state-mandated rules, such as the solar farm situations.
Harmon: “Your action today is a recommendation of a moratorium for 12 months to not accept any applications or local approval because of that lack of guidance from the state. The purpose of the moratorium is just to not accept any applications for the next year is what the purpose of this moratorium is.”Jason Bell: “I’d like to know, if he was approached, what would happen?”Ken Usery: “If I’m approached, I’m voting no.”
Cassie Pigg: “That’s what this is for.”
David South: “So we don’t even get approached for the next year.”Resident: “Usually they are 6-12 months.”
Cannon: “That’s 12 months for unincorporated areas of the Township, or of the County, I’m sorry.”Resident: “So evidently you’ve talked about this; are you receptive to somebody coming in and talking about it?”Pigg: “We are doing this as a protection so that we do not, since there is no language or guidance from the state at this time, so that we do not have to even entertain an application if we are approached in the next 12 months.”Harmon: “We have not been approached. The reason for the timing of this is because of the state’s action for clean energy and the push for these battery storage and these technologies since they’re updating their legislation; we’re pausing, we’re saying we’re not taking anything right now. We need legislation to be updated; we’re not doing anything.”
The conversation continued with board members reminding residents that if the State passes legislation as they did for solar, the board will have no option but to accept. If data centers became mandated throughout the state, like solar, and the board declined, then White County could be sued by the State of Illinois.
The board approved a 12-month moratorium on data centers.
Tiffany James presented to the board a complaint letter against Supervisor of Assessments Gary Baxley. James’ letter indicates that on July 15, she contacted Baxley regarding assessment-related matters and was, in her words, “I felt that I was treated in a condescending and dismissive manner. Rather than providing clear, professional answers to my questions, the supervisor refused to answer several of them, making it difficult for me to obtain information that I believe members of the public are entitled to receive.” James requested that the board review the incident and that appropriate steps be taken.
Moving on to the agenda items, Sherry Baxley and Haley presented a request for an event planned for September 26 at the fairgrounds. The event will be organized in collaboration with the Southern Illinois Recovery Network. There will be NARCAN training, overdose awareness programming, speakers, and meals for those attending.
$4,050 was requested from the Opioid Settlement Fund to help support the event. State’s Attorney Chris Neal was not in attendance, but the board agreed to vote on an authorization for the State’s Attorney to agree to help fund the event.
Lastly, the drone building issue was once again tabled until next month.
The White County Board meeting ended and will next gather on August 18 at 7 pm.