Residents push county to ban data centers and tighten rehab rules after regional grant mention

Rumors that a data center might locate at the Old Mohawk building prompted several residents to press the Laurens County Board of Commissioners to ban data centers, and others asked whether rules for rehab facilities could be strengthened.

Chairman Jimmy Rogers told attendees the county "was not working a data center and this was just a rumor." Brett Manning with the Heart of Georgia Altamaha Regional Commission explained the grant the commission applied for "was for environmental testing and the Mohawk building was included along with several properties all across the region." Manning said grant language listed a data center as one possible use among others and that the Regional Commission did not receive the grant. During the citizens' comment period, Vonda Morton, Rae Bloodworth, Mallory Inkram, Nicole Morris, Tim Young and Joe Powers all expressed opposition to data centers and urged the county to take action; several speakers specifically called for a ban. Separately, Tyler Lumley and Stephanie Lamm raised concerns about rehab facilities and asked whether the county could impose stricter rules.

The meeting record captures the concerns and the clarifying remarks from the Regional Commission; no ordinance, vote or staff directive to draft regulation was recorded during the meeting. Any policy response would require future action by the Board.