Rossford forum hears split views on data centers; residents push zoning updates and study of water, power and long-term impacts

Rossford — At a public forum convened by the Rossford City Council, regional economic development officials and dozens of residents debated whether the community should prepare to host large data centers, with residents urging clearer local rules, environmental study and possible moratoria.

Gary Thompson, executive vice president of the Regional Growth Partnership (RGP), told the audience modern data centers can bring construction jobs, long-term economic output and local tax revenue. On a local broadcast shown to the forum, Thompson said recent RGP research links data-center projects to rapid growth in tech employment in other communities and that a typical modern hyperscale facility uses what he described as about 30,000 gallons of water that is largely recycled in a closed-loop cooling system.

"They're not a good fit for every community, but they're a good fit for many communities in Northwest Ohio," Thompson said during the program. He said the RGP’s annual meeting drew more than 600 people this year to explain the technology and expected benefits.

Several speakers disputed the technical and environmental assurances. Kevin Brown (262 Jennings), a member of the city planning commission, told council that Rossford’s zoning code does not explicitly reference data centers and urged the city to revise its code before any proposal advances. "I'm not against data centers, but I have three things I think you guys need to think about," Brown said, urging zoning updates, annexation safeguards, and planning for the facilities’ end-of-life or 'afterlife' costs.

Kitty McConnell, who said she was representing the Affiliated Construction Trades Ohio Foundation and regional building trades, framed data centers as major construction projects that create sizeable short-term labor demand. "Responsible data center development means infrastructure upgrades, utilities, electrical grid updates," she said, and urged prevailing-wage construction agreements and training pathways for local tradespeople.

Other residents pressed water and energy concerns. Bill Kramer, a former Toledo water-treatment worker, cited municipal capacity limits during drought, noting a historical daily peak he recalled and an Ohio EPA planning limit he stated at 160 million gallons per day. Several speakers said closed-loop cooling still incurs losses to evaporation and drift and that on-site power generation (some facilities use diesel or natural-gas generators) raises questions about air emissions, fuel logistics and noise during monthly testing.

Cindy Lane requested a regulatory ordinance that goes beyond zoning, with provisions for fire-department access and reporting, monthly compliance documentation and emergency-evacuation planning. Another resident described difficulty selling properties near proposed sites and alleged use of nondisclosure agreements by developers; that speaker said well water near some sites appeared discolored, which he reported to local prosecutors.

Mayor Neil McKinnon, identified at the forum as Rossford’s mayor, told attendees that Rossford is not currently the site of a pending data-center project and said joint-development options and annexation rules can be used to share control and revenue with neighboring jurisdictions if development proceeds nearby.

Council members framed the forum as a fact-finding step. Several said they would research zoning revisions, regulatory ordinances, emergency-response coordination and the potential for a temporary moratorium to allow time for rulemaking. The council took no land-use action at the meeting; the only formal motion recorded was a motion to adjourn, which passed by voice vote.

Content and claims in the forum were contested. RGP offered statewide tax and economic figures in support of attracting data centers; residents and former utility workers raised contested technical points about water loss, generator impacts and the scale of long-term local job creation. Council members said they would gather more information before making policy decisions or taking regulatory action.

The council did not set a timeline for follow-up; members said they would continue study and engage planning, public-works and fire officials as they develop possible zoning or regulatory responses.