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Supervisors approve moving forward on data‑center ordinance; consultant engagement to be finalized pending planning & zoning review
Summary
Mitchell County voted to proceed with an ordinance and moratorium process for data centers, approving consultant engagement subject to planning and zoning commission approval to lock in quoted fees. Public comments raised questions about Bitcoin sites, taxation and substation capacity.
The Mitchell County Board of Supervisors discussed a proposed moratorium and ordinance on data centers and related facilities — including Bitcoin‑mining operations — and approved moving forward with consultant support pending planning & zoning commission approval.
Speaker 6 introduced the topic and noted a moratorium had been placed on new data centers. Speaker 5 reported consultant quotes she received for ordinance work, describing a base fee and per‑meeting rates: "So, this quote is actually lower than all the other ordinance quotes that we've received," she said, adding the quote included a $1,500 base fee plus mileage and per‑meeting costs for public listening sessions and workshops.
Board members asked that planning and zoning weigh in before a final contract is signed. Speaker 3 moved that the board approve the consultant engagement pending planning and zoning commission approval; the motion was seconded and approved. Speaker 5 said the county will prepare a contract so that, if the commission approves, a board signatory next year can execute it.
During public comment, speakers raised that one company currently has two approved Bitcoin‑mining sites on parcels zoned light‑industrial near substations, and asked how the county will secure tax or payment arrangements. A county speaker explained these entities were drafting "payment‑in‑kind" agreements in lieu of property taxes and noted the 1% sales tax on electricity usage could generate funds that funnel back to the county.
Public commenters urged a "balanced approach" for an ordinance, cautioned that many substations are at or near capacity, and recommended the county define a size cutoff and scope for regulation. A commenter noted the rapid growth of data centers in the region and suggested engaging local experts and other counties' experiences.
The board's motion to proceed pending planning and zoning review preserves consultant pricing while allowing the planning commission to vet ordinance scope and community concerns; staff will return with a contract and draft materials in early 2026.
