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Public presses commissioners for data‑center moratorium; county attorney says NDAs generally not permitted
Summary
Members of the public asked the board to place a moratorium on new data centers and raised questions about nondisclosure agreements; County Attorney said NDAs are not permitted for county officials except in very limited confidential circumstances under the open door law.
Several members of the public used the meeting’s comment period to press for a moratorium on future data-center projects and to ask how the county handles nondisclosure agreements (NDAs) and transparency around land-use proposals.
One commenter asked, "Are nondisclosure agreements common in county governments? Are they legal?" (transcript). County Attorney S15 replied that NDAs are not permitted for county officials in ordinary circumstances and said only a very narrow set of confidential matters allowed by Indiana's open-door law could be handled outside public proceedings. The attorney clarified that the county is not building a data center and would not sign NDAs related to such projects; NDAs are more likely between private developers and private landowners.
Other speakers asked about the mechanics of requesting items on the planning commission agenda and whether a formal moratorium could be enacted by the commissioners. One public commenter urged a moratorium because, she said, the Unified Development Ordinance directs the county to protect public health, safety and the character of residential areas, and she said trust in government has eroded.
