Oldham County fiscal court amends and adopts data‑center moratorium after heated public comment; judge recuses

At a special called meeting, the Oldham County Fiscal Court voted to amend and adopt an ordinance imposing a moratorium on data‑center applications after removing three exemption clauses from the draft ordinance.

Judge David Vogel, judge executive, opened the session and said the meeting’s main purpose was to “deal with the proposed moratorium ordinance.” During opening remarks he addressed allegations circulating on social media and publicly denied them: “I categorically and unequivocally deny all unspecified allegations of corruption, bribery, favoritism, abuse of power, and retaliation,” he said, and then announced he was recusing himself from further activity in the meeting and turned the session over to a magistrate.

The moratorium drew more than an hour of public comment. Dozens of residents urged the court either to adopt a full, no‑exception pause on data‑center applications or to preserve flexibility for careful zoning. Several speakers argued exemptions would subvert the purpose of a moratorium. Laura O’Brien, a resident, told the court: “I thought a moratorium meant a pause… What it sounds like we’re actually saying is no new applications unless you already slipped one through the door. That’s…