Resident presses commissioners on data center NDAs and AI-written protest letters

At the Butler County Board of Commissioners meeting on April 28, resident Megan Wright asked whether county staff or commissioners had signed nondisclosure agreements related to recent data center meetings and whether the public would have opportunities for hearings if the county adopts regulations. Administrator Will Johnson responded that Assistant Administrator/Finance Director Ryan Adkison "has signed a NDA but the company has not executed their portion of the agreement; therefore, the NDA is not enforceable at this time." Wright also raised concern about the provenance of protest petitions, saying Counselor Terrence Huelskamp told citizens they "look like they were probably written by AI and therefore you all did not have to recognize them," a characterization Huelskamp later disputed in the meeting record.

Johnson and the Board said no formal county regulations for data centers currently exist and that the development of any such regulations would include several opportunities for public comment. Commissioner Darren Jackson told the Board he is aware of a signed contract for property in the northern portion of the county and has heard rumors of a southern contract; Johnson said he was not aware of any formal applications filed in Butler County. Administrator Johnson said staff (Counselor Huelskamp and Community Development Director Toby Stewart) will draft data center regulations within the next 30 days and that he anticipates adjustments to the fee schedule for large-scale commercial applications.

The exchange left open whether any company NDAs are currently enforceable and whether development agreements exist; Johnson reiterated the company's portion of the NDA has not been executed. The public may follow the rulemaking process and the planned staff draft for opportunities to comment.