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Jefferson County council adopts preliminary ERA for former proving ground; public hearing set May 12
Summary
The Jefferson County Council adopted a declaratory resolution (2026-010) designating part of the former Jefferson County Proving Ground as an Economic Revitalization Area (ERA) to preserve development options; the council emphasized this was a first step and scheduled a public hearing and final action for May 12 at 5:30. Residents used the meeting to press for detailed environmental, water, energy and tax-impact information about a proposed data center.
The Jefferson County Council on an April night adopted Resolution 2026-010, a declaratory measure that designates portions of the former Jefferson County Proving Ground (JPG) as an Economic Revitlization Area and sets a public hearing for May 12 at 5:30 to take final action.
Council members repeatedly stressed that the item approved at the meeting was only the first procedural step. "This is part one of two parts," a council speaker told the room while reading the resolution and citing Indiana Code 6-1.1-12.1-1. The council voted to adopt the resolution as the initial designation; one member, Ray, recorded an abstention.
Why it matters: supporters say an ERA preserves the county's ability to pursue large projects that could bring investment and infrastructure upgrades; opponents and many residents say it raises unanswered questions about environmental impacts, electricity and water demand, public-safety needs and whether projected tax benefits are realistic.
Residents filled the podium during public comment to press the council for details. "What will the monthly kilowatt-hour power draw of this thing be? How much of that power will be derived from renewable sources?" asked Elijah Chandler, a downtown resident who said he has 25 years of supply-chain and IT experience. Chandler also raised questions about water use, closed-loop cooling, water chemistry and the types of tenants a data center might host.
Fire and emergency preparedness was another recurring theme. Robert Black, identified as fire chief of Madison Township, described equipment and training commitments he said had been secured in relation to a nearby battery farm and warned that a large industrial facility requires planning for specialized firefighting equipment and water supply.
Council response and next steps: Council members told residents the ERA does not itself authorize construction or tax abatements. "Before any project could seek additional benefits such as deductions or abatements, it would have to come back to the county and to the appropriate permit or appeal bodies," a council speaker said. The council committed to posting the resolution and the exhibit map online and to scheduling a public hearing on May 12 to capture fuller public comment and any additional information the community needs.
What remains unclear: speakers at the meeting noted a gap between publicity (including a newspaper article that quoted project supporters' projections) and the documentary record available to the public. Attendees repeatedly requested an informational packet with technical details (power and water estimates, projected job counts, ownership/tenant safeguards, environmental monitoring plans and any proposed tax arrangements) before the May hearing.
The council encouraged further dialogue and said staff would work on posting documents and clarifying agenda acronyms and notices. The ERA designation will be final only after the May public hearing and any subsequent deliberations by the Council.
