Jerusalem Township zoning investigation ongoing, Barnes declares innocence
Jerusalem Township is facing an ongoing investigation into its zoning department, with a recent zoning change deemed invalid due to improper public notice. This situation is unfolding while data center investors, recommended by First Energy for access to power and water, have toured the township, despite an existing one-year moratorium on data center development.
An investigation by the Lucas County Prosecutor's Office is ongoing into the Jerusalem Township zoning department, following the resignation of former zoning inspector Jacob Barnes and the elimination of his assistant Rob Gearhart's position. The controversy escalated when Gearhart canceled a public hearing notice for a rezoning request on Corduroy Road, leading the county's Civil Deputy Chief Prosecutor, John Borell, to declare the subsequent zoning change from C2 to agricultural/residential invalid due to improper notice. Trustees are now considering restarting the entire zoning change process.
Confusion arose at a recent trustee meeting when Trustee Dave Bench read a letter from Barnes, claiming Borell found nothing illegal in the actions of Barnes or Gearhart. Trustee Alex Lytten questioned the official value of this letter, and Trustee Beau Miller expressed shock, noting the statement did not come directly from the prosecutor's office, which is expected to issue an official statement soon.
Amidst these internal issues, data center investors from Dallas, Texas, recently toured Jerusalem Township. First Energy recommended the township due to its easy access to power and water. However, the trustees made it clear to the investors that a one-year moratorium on data centers is currently in place. The township is actively searching for a new zoning inspector to address the department's high turnover and to ensure fair and balanced application of zoning regulations.