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Residents press Millville commissioners over proposed data center, trash-fee hike and redevelopment transparency
Summary
During public comment, residents urged the newly sworn-in Millville commissioners to block or scrutinize a nearby Vineland data-center project, demanded more transparency about a 5% solid-waste fee increase, and called for aggressive follow-up on redevelopment and youth programs.
A stream of public commenters at the Millville City Board of Commissioners’ reorganizational meeting urged the new commission to prioritize transparency and public health, pressing officials about a proposed data center in nearby Vineland, a recently approved increase to solid-waste fees, and redevelopment plans.
Multiple speakers raised environmental and process concerns about a Vineland data-center project. A resident who identified himself as Larry said the project “doesn’t have an air quality study, we don’t have a water use study and we have a real misrepresentation of noise pollution,” and alleged the developer had been cited and fined by state regulators. He said the developer’s CEO told the public the campus could expand to “a gigawatt scale data center campus.” Another commenter said generators and emissions could affect local air quality and health.
Mayor Dixon responded directly to those concerns, saying Millville has “no appetite for data centers at this point” and that, in any case, “I don't think Millville even has the power to do data centers even if we wanted to. We don't have the electricity.” The mayor offered to discuss redevelopment-property details with residents after the meeting.
Residents also sought an explanation for a $12 increase to solid-waste charges — described in public comment as roughly a 5% rise. Tamara Davis asked for a public accounting before votes. City officials replied that higher fees charged by the Atlantic County Utilities Authority (ACUA), higher tipping costs and increased recycling expenses accounted for most of the change; an official stated that “the ACUA is increasing their fees 20%” during the exchange.
Other public comments praised the new commission’s apparent energy and commitment and offered partnerships: Joe Southerntherland described the Mill Municipal Alliance Committee’s decades of work on youth substance-abuse prevention; Cindy Cook noted ongoing service on the Homeless Trust Fund; Jared Carl (Veterans Multi Service Center) offered housing support for veterans. Speakers repeatedly asked the commission to ensure land owners develop parcels rather than hold property idle and to prioritize youth intervention alongside public-safety investments.
What happens next: Commissioners said they will continue to post work-session recordings (a question from Tamara Davis was answered in the affirmative) and that the city would follow up with residents on redevelopment property details and fee drivers. No formal action to halt or approve a data center was taken at the meeting; claims about fines and environmental impacts were made in public comment and remain subject to external verification.
Representative quotes:
"To date, they have been found out to be in out of compliance on 16 counts by NJ D for which they have been fined nearly $100,000," (public commenter Larry).
"I don't think Millville even has the power to do data centers even if we wanted to. We don't have the electricity," (Mayor Dixon).
"The ACUA is increasing their fees 20% ... tipping fees have gone up ... recycling is going up," (city official responding during public comment).
The meeting closed with commissioners stressing visible near-term public-safety steps, a push for economic development tied to expanding the tax base, and a pledge to keep lines of communication open with residents.
