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Residents press council for proof on data-center water use, noise and tax gains
Summary
During public comment, several Rural Hall residents raised safety and historic-preservation concerns about a proposed data center, asked for proof of tax-revenue projections, and alleged disrespectful conduct by town leaders at a prior meeting.
Multiple residents used the public-comment period to press the council on the proposed data-center campus across the street from town. Echoing concerns raised in steering-committee meetings, speakers asked for concrete documentation on water use, noise mitigation, and exact tax-revenue figures before the council or county took further steps.
"Mayor Bennett spoke to a member of the community disrespectfully, using inappropriate language and calling the person a liar," one speaker said while asking the council to enforce its code of ethics and to consider whether certain elected officials should remain on the council. Residents also pointed to nearby Stewart/Steuart's Chapel and a cemetery and asked how a large electrical substation and buildings would affect those resources and community safety.
Other commenters questioned the developer's revenue estimates and asked for a more detailed accounting. "We need to see proof how much tax revenue will come into the county and potentially our town before this disruption can even be considered," one resident said, criticizing a reported $30'$60 million revenue estimate as insufficiently verified.
Council members accepted the testimony as part of the public record; no formal action on the data-center proposal was taken at the meeting. Staff and the developer said the project remains under county planning review and that the steering committee process will continue.
