Residents press county on jail medical care and proposed hyperscale data center; town hall planned

Multiple residents used the public‑comment period at the May 28 Jefferson County commissioners meeting to press the board on medical services at the county jail and to raise questions about a proposed hyperscale data center project.

Residents expressed concern about a recent in‑custody death and broader issues with jail healthcare staffing and training. Sheriff Flint responded that Quality Correctional Care remains the jail’s medical provider, that 24/7 medical and mental‑health services are in place, that officers receive training and that Narcan is available, and he said the incident is under investigation by the Indiana State Police.

Separately, commenters asked about infrastructure and environmental impacts, utility costs, transparency, zoning and future development related to a proposed hyperscale data center. Commissioners told the public that a data center is a permitted use within heavy industrial zoning and that, to date, no building permits have been issued and no tax abatements or county bonds have been approved or requested. They said detailed review, including any required studies and potential third‑party engineering analysis, will occur during the permitting process and noted that a moratorium on data centers would require additional review and formal action by the appropriate bodies.

Elijah Chandler, identified in the minutes as a downtown Madison resident, invited the board and public to a community town hall on June 5 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the county fairgrounds to discuss questions related to the proposed data center; Chandler described the meeting as informational and not advocacy‑based and said panelists from various fields are expected to participate.

The commissioners made no formal land‑use decisions at the meeting; they reiterated that permitting and any ordinance amendments would follow established Plan Commission and permitting procedures.