Residents press Westmoreland County commissioners for transparency on sheriff’s ICE agreement, data centers and industrial water sales

Residents raised a string of public‑safety and transparency concerns at the Westmoreland County Board of Commissioners’ public meeting on May 14, 2026 in Greensburg.

Elizabeth Veronica Weaver of Hempfield Township pressed the board to release the full written text of a sheriff’s agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, saying participants in 287(g) programs can receive salary reimbursement and performance bonuses that create incentives she described as dangerous. "We deserve to know the full written text of the agreement he signed with ICE," Weaver said, adding that if quotas are involved "county residents are at real risk of harassment, detention, torture and deportation." The board did not vote on any action related to the comment during the meeting.

James Cerliano of Protect PT asked the commissioners to place a resolution on a future agenda to compel the Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County (MAWC) to restrict industrial water sales for hydraulic fracturing and other consumptive uses during droughts, arguing that water used for drilling is removed from the usable supply. "We are asking to put on the agenda a resolution that would compel the MAWC to restrict water sales for fracking and for other consumptive uses during a period of drought," Cerliano said.

Chairman Sean Kertes read a statement provided by MAWC in response. In the statement MAWC said industrial sales are made only when "excess raw water capacity exists," are permitted and managed in accordance with Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection rules and the Authority’s Drought Contingency Plan, and that MAWC "has never sold water during drought conditions in accordance with our State approved Drought Contingency Plan." The statement noted that revenue from excess‑capacity sales is reinvested in the authority’s system and that industrial withdrawals were halted voluntarily when appropriate.

Data‑center development and related AI risks were also a focus of public comment. Joann Garing of North Huntingdon urged multi‑jurisdictional attention to data centers, noting that Pennsylvania already hosts more than 100 and urging guidelines to protect land, jobs and privacy. "AI has enormous potential to do good for mankind," Garing said, "but the benefits must be balanced against the enormous risk." Commissioners responded that land‑use and zoning authority lies with municipal governments rather than the county.

Other speakers raised local concerns including a cut to summer reading funding at Norwin Public Library, the need for greater accessibility to county meetings and election services, Westmoreland’s trail restoration successes and calls for reform of tax‑collector administration. Several speakers urged stronger, earlier oversight of emergency orders, especially where child‑safety and cross‑jurisdictional enforcement are involved.

The commissioners did not take immediate action on the public requests during the meeting; many of the visitors’ items were entered into the record and followed by the agenda’s regular business, during which the board unanimously approved a series of grants, contracts and resolutions (see separate "Votes at a glance" report).