LINCOLN, Ill. (WAND) — For months, the conversation in Logan County has evolved from whether a data center should be built to how the county should regulate them.
Now, with new applications pending, new ordinances under consideration and the possibility of voters having a say, county leaders are once again deciding what comes next.
“Come to our aid in Logan County — yes — and we need an attorney. We won’t have much money, but we need an attorney. We need protection from our own government because our elected officials do not care about us, don’t care what we want. The will of the people is not being followed,” said resident Dayton Keyes.
Residents expressed their frustrations during heated public comment at the Logan County Zoning and Economic Development meeting. Last week, the state’s attorney determined the 12-month moratorium was invalid. Now, residents are demanding answers.
“How did our state’s attorney only bother to notice you were operating illegally after a second time? How did you only bother to ask how to do it properly after the second one — the one you didn’t want passed? How are you conducting business this way?” another resident said during public comment.
Keyes requested data centers be put on the ballot for the community to decide. But Chairman Gil Turner said that’s not an option.
“There is no item in the county code that permits it, and it is also against the law,” Turner said.
Zoning officer Allan Green said he has submitted two new applications. The county currently does not have a data center ordinance. Green said Hut 8 would not be held to any new regulations created in a new ordinance.
“Since Hut 8 already made its application, it cannot be held to — at least for this application — an ordinance that’s passed after that,” Green said.
Hut 8’s application must go through multiple screening processes, including the zoning board and the county board. The Hut 8 data center application will be discussed during the zoning board meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 5.
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