Black Councilwoman Walks Out Of Meeting To Block Proposed Data Center Vote
A councilwoman in Burgin, Kentucky, walked out of a city council meeting, preventing a vote on an annexation tied to a proposed Panattoni Data Centers facility. Residents have voiced concerns about the project's impact on noise, air quality, water, and electricity. The councilwoman stated she would not approve annexation until the city has planning and zoning regulations.
Melinda Wofford, a Burgin, Kentucky councilwoman, successfully halted a city council meeting on Tuesday, September 8, by walking out and causing the body to lose its quorum. Her departure prevented a vote on an ordinance to annex land parcels where Panattoni Data Centers intends to construct a hyperscale facility. This would have been the second time the city considered the annexation, according to the Kentucky Lantern.
Local residents and Mercer County's Zoé Strecker have expressed significant concerns regarding the proposed data center, citing potential negative impacts on noise, air quality, water, electricity demand, and local infrastructure. Strecker urged against rushing the development, implying the community is being targeted due to inexpensive land, cheap nearby power, and the local government's desire for increased tax revenue. Panattoni senior vice president Brock Tomlinson defended the project, highlighting the potential for tens of millions of dollars in local tax revenue and asserting the company has engaged with residents. Wofford, who voted to advance a plan for Burgin to join Mercer County's joint planning and zoning commission, stated she would not approve any annexation until comprehensive planning and zoning regulations are established in the city.