Cedartown commission approves temporary data center moratorium

The Cedartown City Commission unanimously approved a temporary moratorium on data center development during a special call meeting on March 23, 2026.

Chairman Sam Branch called the meeting to order at 5:04 p.m. Commissioner Jessica Payton moved to approve Resolution 4, 2026, establishing a moratorium on data center development; Commissioner Dale Tuck seconded. The motion carried with all voting “Aye,” and the resolution was recorded as approved.

The vote follows the formal motion recorded in the minutes; the public record provided at the meeting does not specify the moratorium’s duration, the precise geographic boundaries it covers within Cedartown, or any exemptions for pending permits or projects. Those details were not discussed in the public portion of the meeting and are not included in the minutes.

Shortly after the vote, at 5:07 p.m., Commissioner Ryan Casey moved that the commission enter an executive session to discuss real estate and economic development matters; Commissioner Tuck seconded and the motion passed with all voting “aye.” The commission remained in executive session until 7:00 p.m., when Commissioner Tuck moved and Commissioner Matt Foster seconded to reconvene. The minutes record no substantive details from the executive session.

With no further business, the commission adjourned at 7:01 p.m. on a motion by Commissioner Tuck, seconded by Commissioner Payton. The public minutes list the commissioners present as Chairman Sam Branch, Pro-Tem Matt Foster, Ryan Casey, Jessica Payton and Dale Tuck and note city staff in attendance including City Attorney Carey Pilgrim, City Manager Edward Guzman, Mitzi Allen (city clerk) and Finance Director Amy Orebaugh.

The next procedural steps or any administrative orders implementing Resolution 4, 2026 were not stated in the meeting record provided.