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Residents press commissioners over proposed data center; board says conditional‑use safeguards in place
Summary
Dozens of residents urged the Jones County Board of Commissioners to block a proposed data center, citing water, noise and property-value concerns; commissioners said they have placed data-center applications under conditional use and will follow the legal application process.
Residents packed the Oct. 7 Jones County meeting to voice opposition to a potential data center, raising concerns about water use, noise, environmental impacts and long-term economic benefit. Commissioners told residents the county has put conditional-use parameters in place so that any data-center proposal must come before planning and zoning and then the Board of Commissioners.
Kristen Simpson, who identified herself as a lifelong Jones County resident, told the board she opposes locating a data center in the county because of water demands. “The average Georgia home takes about 80 to 90 gallons of water a day. In contrast, the smallest data centers take about 18,000 gallons of water a day,” Simpson said. She warned data centers can draw on local water supplies and wells and urged the board to consider alternatives such as small-business grants and festivals to stimulate the local economy.
Lance Lam, a Flat Shoals Road resident, echoed concerns about water and urged the county to require public disclosures, insurance or other protections so neighbors would not bear the costs if a facility went bankrupt or caused local damage. Alexander Loveholtz, a resident leading a citizen petition, told commissioners he planned a petition “by the citizens of Jones County opposing the Data Center.”
Commissioner Kitchens responded at length, saying the county cannot legally pre‑reject private applications but has moved to require conditional use review for data centers. “What we did three weeks ago was put precautions in place and required it to be a conditional use for every application that comes to Jones County,” Kitchens said. He described the legal process for planning and zoning review and urged residents to select spokespersons for hearings so public comment is efficient.
The board did not take a formal vote on a data-center permit or zoning at the Oct. 7 meeting. Commissioners said materials and the parameters posted on the county website describe the conditional-use requirements and will be part of future hearings. The chairman announced a future zoning meeting dedicated to the application and said the county will provide overflow viewing and participation options for the expected large turnout.
Sources: Public comments from Kristen Simpson, Lance Lam and Alexander Loveholtz; remarks by Commissioner Kitchens during the Oct. 7 Jones County Board of Commissioners meeting.
