Cass County election commission votes on petition recall for data center moratorium decision
A recall petition filed by Greg Schoenfeld against Penn Township Supervisor Oli Olafsson and Treasurer Paul Rutherford was rejected by the Cass County election commission. Schoenfeld sought the recall after the township enacted a 30-day data center moratorium, arguing it was insufficient and the process was unfair. A similar petition recall is scheduled for a future hearing.
The Cass County election commission has rejected a petition to recall Penn Township Supervisor Oli Olafsson and Treasurer Paul Rutherford. The petition was filed by Greg Schoenfeld, who argued that a 30-day data center moratorium passed by Penn Township last month was not long enough and that the vote on the moratorium occurred before public comment was heard, which he considered unfair.
Schoenfeld stated that the 30-day moratorium should be a first step towards a 1-year moratorium to prevent large-scale industrial development on agricultural land. Election probate judge Carol Montavon Bealor voted against the recall petition, noting that the commission's role is not to determine the propriety of actions but the clarity of the recall reason. Judge Bealor suggested the 30-day moratorium could allow time to seek legal counsel.
Despite the rejection, the Cass County election commission has scheduled another hearing for Monday, June 8, to address a similar recall petition concerning the same issue, indicating ongoing public concern and opposition regarding the data center development and moratorium decision.