Wayne County Commissioners address data center rumors

Wayne County Commissioners recently held a public meeting to discuss a potential data center project at the 315-acre Wayne Commerce Center in Jessup, Georgia. The meeting aimed to address concerns and rumors circulating among residents following the county's industrial development authority's approval of a contract to sell the property for over $23 million. Jessup Mayor Ralph Hickox stated this is just the beginning of the process, with many variables still in play.

The commissioners clarified that the workshop was not to answer public questions directly but to address the rumors and inform the public about their role. They highlighted an existing ordinance passed earlier this year that regulates data centers, addressing issues such as noise limits and buffers. Vice Chairman Kevin McCrary explained that their current focus is to update this ordinance to ensure a set of rules and regulations are in place should a data center developer decide to build there. He emphasized that the county's role is not to vote on a specific data center project, but to establish the regulatory framework.

Discussions during the meeting also touched on the economic benefits, particularly tax revenue, which commissioners view as a significant advantage. However, residents raised concerns about water usage, with comparisons being made regarding the daily water consumption of a hypothetical data center versus other large facilities. Officials have not yet confirmed specific plans for the Wayne County Commerce Center.