Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Environmental Health topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Parent asks board to oppose local data centers without environmental review
Summary
Amanda McWhorter, a Middle Creek Elementary PTA vice president, asked the board to publicly oppose data-center development absent environmental review and to create a countywide plan to assess health, safety and learning impacts for students near data centers.
Amanda McWhorter introduced herself as an Ohio County Schools parent and Middle Creek Elementary PTA vice president and urged the board to take two actions regarding planned data-center development near district schools.
"I did not come here this evening with pitchforks or torches," McWhorter said. She described West Virginia's economic pitch to data-center developers ("fast deployment and no barriers") and said a proposed data center at the former foundry site could be within roughly a mile of Warwood schools and might start its first phase "within just a few months." McWhorter asked the board to (1) take a public stance — including considering a resolution opposing data-center development in the county unless an environmental review is conducted — and (2) create a countywide plan to evaluate and address potential health, safety and learning impacts on students and school facilities.
McWhorter emphasized she recognized the board's limited legal authority to block such projects but said the board could still press for environmental review and planning to protect students. She urged swift action and warned of potential conflicts of interest to be avoided in any response.
The board did not vote on the requested resolution during the meeting. Garber thanked McWhorter for her remarks and listed upcoming meeting dates where the board could continue discussion.
Next steps: No formal action was taken; the speaker asked for a resolution and a county plan. The board did not schedule staff follow-up on the record during the meeting.
