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Residents press commissioners on data centers, planning maps and judicial complaints during public comment
Summary
Residents at the Dec. 15 Livingston County meeting urged commissioners to scrutinize draft master‑plan growth designations and data center proposals and raised separate concerns about local court handling; commenters named local political figures and asked the board to investigate conflicts of interest.
Multiple residents used the board’s public comment periods on Dec. 15 to press officials about data center proposals, discrepancies in the county master plan, and complaints about local court proceedings.
Mary Ann Barger of Kohakta Township asked why state action had, in her view, "taken over" township and city ordinances and also complained about higher local gas prices. "Why haven't I seen a lot of you gentlemen fighting back against our township and city's ordinance are taken over by the state of Michigan," she said.
Stephanie Booth of Howell urged residents to "take careful note" of local political connections to data‑center advocacy. Booth alleged that a local GOP chair and a real estate owner who once held a presentation on a data center may financially benefit if projects relocate nearby. "I think he's hoping... it's going to come to his real estate office," Booth said, and she asked commissioners to look into relationships between elected officials and proponents of data‑center projects.
Another Howell resident raised technical concerns about the county draft master plan, saying areas north of the airport were shown as primary or secondary growth on the county's future land use map despite township maps showing otherwise; she requested clearer guidance for townships on handling incoming data‑center proposals.
Steve Williams of Marion Township used the second public comment period to recount personal grievances tied to family‑court proceedings, including protective order enforcement and document requests from a guardian ad litem. Williams said he provided documentation to the board and asked commissioners to review it.
No board action was taken on the public comments during the meeting; commissioners did not announce follow‑up steps on the allegations about political ties or the master plan during the session.
