Harrison County Commissioners Address Data Center Rumors, Zoning Concerns Near Cadiz
Harrison County Commissioners addressed rumors regarding a potential data center development near Cadiz, clarifying that the county lacks zoning regulations. Local officials and a state house candidate discussed the implications of such projects, including potential tax abatements and strain on utility infrastructure.
The Harrison County Commissioners recently reapproved corrected land bank resolutions, an action they stated involved only minor wording changes and did not alter plans for the Harrison County Land Reutilization Corporation. The board had rescinded two earlier resolutions, 19-26 and 20-26, citing inaccurate or incomplete information, and subsequently approved replacement resolutions 42-26 and 43-26.
Following this, Ohio House District 95 candidate Paul Cameron raised concerns about rumors of data centers potentially purchasing former Consol Energy property near the Cadiz Country Club. Commissioner Dustin Corder clarified that Harrison County lacks its own zoning authority, which would instead fall under the Village of Cadiz or Cadiz Township, neither of which currently have zoning regulations. Corder also stated that, to their knowledge, no purchase of the property has occurred.
Cameron additionally questioned the use of tax and utility abatements for data center projects, a possibility Corder acknowledged, explaining that many economic development projects utilize Payments In Lieu Of Taxes (PILOT) agreements. Cameron expressed broader concerns about data centers, citing their limited job creation, reliance on out-of-state workers, and potential strain on local electric and water infrastructure. He also highlighted issues with non-disclosure agreements that often restrict public access to project details.