Indiantown data center debate ends with village manager’s termination
The Indiantown Village Council held a heated meeting where residents urged a pause on new hyperscale data center projects. The council ultimately rejected a proposed moratorium resolution as written, citing the need for legal review and new language. The meeting concluded with a major shakeup in village leadership, including the removal of the village attorney and the immediate termination of the village manager.
A special village meeting in Indiantown saw a packed crowd of residents demanding that leaders temporarily pause future hyperscale data center projects. Residents expressed concerns about the potential impact of multiple data centers on the area, including their proximity to schools, parks, and neighborhoods, creating an interactive map of proposed projects like "Project Growler" and "Project Bass car."
The Indiantown Village Council, however, voted 4-1 against the proposed resolution for a data center moratorium as it was written. Council members indicated they wanted an interim attorney to review the proposal and help draft new language that could withstand legal scrutiny, with plans to revisit the conversation within the next week.
Former Florida gubernatorial candidate James Fishback spoke at the meeting, citing 19 successful data center moratoriums passed in Florida this year without legal challenge. Following the vote, the meeting took an unexpected turn as council members voted to remove the village attorney, Wade Voss, and immediately fire Village Manager Taryn Christa, stating a desire to move the village in a different direction. The council hopes to have interim replacements before addressing the data center and moratorium issue again.