Piqua residents sue city over data center
Piqua residents are suing the City of Piqua over its emergency approval of a data center project on Farrington Road, alleging a "back door deal" and a broken trust with city officials. They are currently fundraising for the lawsuit, expressing frustration over the lack of public notification for the project's approval.
Piqua, Ohio, residents are protesting and planning to sue the City Commission over the emergency approval of a data center project on Farrington Road. During a city commission meeting, residents expressed their anger, holding signs and chanting, claiming the data center plans were passed months ago as an emergency, which eliminated most public notification. They also expressed upset over city officials reportedly signing non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) in the process.
According to 10 News Reporter Kierstin Raeford, residents plan to sue the city and are actively fundraising $300,000 for legal fees. They argue that the city's actions constitute a "back door deal" and a broken trust. This local opposition is part of a broader statewide concern; 44,000 Ohioans have signed a petition urging state representatives to pause data center progress for further studies. The City of Piqua issued a statement acknowledging residents' right to peaceful assembly but did not address the specific allegations regarding the data center project.