Residents differ over proposed data-center moratorium during Levy County public comment

A contentious public-comment exchange at the start of the meeting highlighted local debate over a proposed moratorium on data centers.

Ken Jones, who said he spoke at a zoning meeting the night before, urged the board not to adopt a lengthy moratorium. He argued the county should instead move directly to zoning that would allow the community to capture economic benefits: "If we begin in October, it's gonna be 14 months of missed opportunity," he said, adding that counties like Loudoun, Va., and Gary, Ind., had benefited from data-center investment.

Later, Granada Cannon told the board she disagreed with Jones and asked commissioners "to extend the moratorium, not to do away with it," saying the additional time would permit community input. Diane Guard also asked that any Flock camera installations in unincorporated county areas be brought before the board so citizens could weigh in.

The exchange framed competing local priorities: potential economic development and tax-base gains versus time to craft zoning and preserve community input. Commissioners did not take immediate action at the meeting on the moratorium; the topic remains scheduled for follow-up planning and zoning work.