Board of Elections certifies petition for vote on large-scale data center amendment in Heath
The Licking County Board of Elections certified 481 valid signatures for a petition seeking a Heath charter amendment to ban large-scale data centers over 25 megawatts. Heath City Council is expected to accept the petition and schedule a special election, while a Microsoft data center is under construction in the city.
The Licking County Board of Elections certified a petition containing 481 valid signatures, exceeding the 220 required to place a proposed Heath charter amendment on the ballot. The measure, titled “Prohibition of a Data Center,” would ban construction of large-scale data centers exceeding 25 megawatts if approved by voters.
The petition was organized by Margo Mayberry with help from residents Ruth Prince and Steven Watling after earlier submissions were rejected over signature and filing issues. Heath City Council had not yet certified the ordinance but was expected to consider it at its Nov. 2 meeting and schedule a special election. The proposed ban comes as Microsoft builds a data center on Thornwood Drive, while Licking County has dozens of existing, approved or planned facilities.