Washington County Commissioners in contact with data center developers about public meeting

The Washington County Commissioners addressed public comments during their weekly meeting regarding a potential data center project in Waterford, Ohio. Commissioner Charlie Schilling confirmed ongoing efforts to arrange a public meeting with the developer to answer community questions. Residents, including Steve Arnold and Barbara Stewart, expressed strong opposition and concerns. Arnold highlighted the risk of aquifer contamination from injection wells, linking the broader issue of water protection to industrial development in Washington County. Stewart criticized the use of tax abatements to subsidize data centers, arguing that "billionaires of Silicon Valley" should pay their full share and expressing worries about pollution and job displacement by AI and robotics. The commissioners also handled other county business, including approving a collective bargaining agreement for the Washington County Child Support Enforcement Agency.