Franklin Furnace residents raise Google data center concerns at Scioto commission meeting
Residents living near Google’s Project Dazzler data center in Franklin Furnace raised concerns to the Scioto County Commission about construction dust, truck traffic, noise, lighting and possible effects on property values. Commissioner Merit Smith agreed to ask Google about purchasing homes from residents who want to move and said the county would continue addressing construction and road concerns.
Residents near Google’s developing Project Dazzler data center in Franklin Furnace told the Scioto County Commission that construction has caused dust, increased truck traffic and uncertainty about future noise and lighting. Bethany Satterfield, who lives next to the proposed facility, said nearby property owners are concerned they may not receive fair market value if they decide to sell their homes.
Commissioner Merit Smith acknowledged the residents’ concerns and said he would contact Google about whether it would make purchase offers to neighboring property owners, though he cautioned that he could not guarantee the company would buy additional properties. Smith also said Google is conducting noise studies and that he had raised construction complaints with Holder Construction, the project’s general contractor. Commissioners discussed a tax abatement tied to the project and planned road and traffic improvements, including work on Brawlin Road and culverts for concrete trucks.