Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Use topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Cass County commissioners pass data-center transparency resolution after resident warns of NDA tactics
Summary
The board approved Resolution R1-2026 urging transparency and a regulatory framework for data center development after a resident warned that developers sometimes use NDAs, leading to rapid approvals and local impacts on water and electricity, and commissioners agreed to circulate the resolution to local townships, villages and the city.
Cass County commissioners voted to approve Resolution R1-2026 urging greater transparency and a regulatory framework for data center development, the board said during its organizational meeting.
The resolution passed by roll call after discussion about how to notify local units. Commissioner (unnamed) suggested, "we are going to send this out to the 15 townships, 4 villages, and 1 city," language the board agreed to add so townships and villages would be formally advised of the board's recommendations.
The item followed a public comment from Wayne Township resident Julie Dye, who thanked commissioners for introducing the resolution and warned that some developers "have operated unscrupulously" in other Midwest communities. Dye said developers sometimes ask township officials to sign nondisclosure agreements, then advance rezoning and project approvals without broad public awareness. She cited Michigan House Bill 5399 as a recently introduced example of state-level bills addressing NDAs in data-center development and urged the board to encourage local representatives to support similar measures.
Commissioners did not adopt new binding land-use regulations during the meeting; the resolution is an urging document and the board directed staff to distribute it to local units for awareness. No rezone or permit was approved as part of the vote.
The board approved the resolution by roll call; the transcript records all commissioners present voting in favor. The resolution's distribution language was amended so county staff will provide copies to the named townships, villages and the city identified in the motion.
Next steps: staff will finalize the distribution list and include the 15 townships, four villages and one city in the transmittal when the resolution is circulated, per the board's direction.
