Franklin County approves $50,000 Springline advisory contract despite widespread public opposition

The Franklin County Commission voted to approve commission order 2026-198 to hire Springline Advisory (engaging consultant Steve Etcher) to produce tax-projection work for two proposed data-center sites. The approval came after more than an hour of public comment in which dozens of residents urged the commission to deny the contract and to require environmental and public-health studies first.

Residents who spoke at the meeting framed their opposition around procurement, transparency, cost and environmental risk. Corbett Shannon told commissioners: "Vote no on commission order 2026Dash198," arguing the contract was a "taxpayer-funded rubber stamp" and saying people "have 0 confidence" in the consultant’s independence. Several others, including Dr. Jennifer Moody, a scientist who spoke on the record, pressed for environmental, water, infrastructure, health, heat and sound studies before authorizing any studies that could facilitate rezoning or incentives.

Commissioners discussed funding and contract terms during the meeting; the engagement as described in public comment was $25,000 per proposed data center (a total of $50,000) with an hourly rate after 60 hours (commenters cited $420/hour). County officials clarified that the commission would revisit funding if the initial hours cap is exceeded. The commission carried the motion to approve the contract by voice vote.

Supporters of independent contracting procedures argued the tax-projection work can inform fiscal discussions; opponents said a tax projection without concurrent environmental and public-health reviews gives a distorted sense of benefits. Multiple speakers urged the county to require developer-paid environmental studies, escrowed protections for construction-related harm and formal community benefits agreements that prioritize local residents.

Next steps following the approval were not announced at the meeting beyond the usual contract execution; several speakers asked how the public could access assumptions, calculations and whether the firm had been vetted against other bidders. The commission also approved related commission order 2026-199 during the same session, and commissioners said they would control scope and funding limits as the contract proceeds.