County Council - Regular Meeting

Ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon. It's now after 5.30. I want to convene this meeting of July 7, Greenwood County Council. First, I want to thank the school district for allowing us to again use this fine facility. It gives us a lot of space and I hope it's comfortable for all of you. Thank you all for being here. Your Greenwood County Council has been in executive session since 4 p.m. In the interest of transparency, I'm going to ask that County Manager Toby Chappell tell you the reasons that we had the need for that. Mr. Manager.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Members of the County Council, we entered into executive session for the following nine matters. The matters included five economic development projects currently known as Projects Helios, Patriot, Driven, Banner, one real estate transaction pertaining to property in the area of Uptown Greenwood, and three legal matters pertaining to Taysen Holden's North America, ordinances 2026-19 and 2026-25.

Thank you, Mr. Manager. I appreciate that. I'll need a motion, please, that we exit executive session.

Motion to exit.

I have a motion by Ms. Miller.

Second.

Second by Ms. Carissa. All in favor? And we're now out of executive session. Thank you. We did not have any action to be taken coming out of that executive session today, for those of you in the audience. Our invocation tonight will be provided by Councilman Robbie Templeton. Robbie?

Let us pray. Dear Lord, we thank you for this day. We thank you for the opportunity to gather and do the business of this wonderful county. I ask that you place your hand on everyone who is here tonight and help us with our decision-making process as well. I ask that you watch over our first responders. I thank them for being here to watch over us and for all the things they do in our community each and every day. Be with our armed forces here and abroad as they provide the protection that we need and the freedoms that we enjoy. Again, just thank you for the opportunity to gather to do the business of this wonderful county. I ask that you put your hand and watch over all. I ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.

Amen. We honor our nation with a pledge of allegiance, please. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. Please be seated. Council, I trust that you've had the opportunity to review your minutes from our previous meeting. If so, I'll entertain a motion that we approve those minutes.

So moved.

Second. I have a motion by the Vice Chairman, second by Mr. Thompson. All in favor? And that's unanimous and so ordered. Thank you very much. Ms. McIntyre. Where's Ms. McIntyre? Bringing you a list, though. Yeah. Could you please bring me the public comment list, please, ma'am?

So, it appears as expected that we have a number of people signed up for public comment.

Give me 1 quick 2nd.

I'm going to estimate about 30 people. So I'm going to ask that you adhere strictly to the three minutes to speak. I'm sure that most of what you will convey tonight has been conveyed to us in prior meetings. So having said that, I'll read I'll read from top to bottom here. And if you will please just come to the podium, state your name and address to the record. And please, when you hear the tone, please conclude your comments. I'm not gonna cut you off in mid-sentence, but if you would be judicious in that, please. First, Tracy Rickey. Tracy Rickey. Thank you, ma'am.

Good evening. My name is Tracy Rickey. I live at 522 Pascal in Greenwood. And I was lucky enough to attend the meeting last week about the amendment and the changes that were made. And as much as I appreciate the effort that went into that, I still don't feel that it's good enough for us, for Greenwood. The thousand foot restriction away from homes and businesses and schools was definitely a huge improvement. However, I just still feel like a data center is not what Greenwood needs right now. I also in the amendment saw the change that they were going to do a closed loop system. Well, Upon some research, I found that even with the closed loop systems, there are a lot of snags and issues. I just feel as though right now, we don't know enough about data centers to have an appropriate amendment for them to come here. I just don't feel like it's strong enough. And That's just my personal opinion when it comes to these data centers. There's just so much information coming at us, and some of it good, some of it bad, but the majority of it is not good, what we're finding. There are so many different pollutants, PFOBs, there's just so many things that are going on with data centers right now, and I really think that it would be beneficial for Greenwood to wait. and give some time so that we can do more research. I understand that there's been some research. You guys have been to a data center. I don't know the outcomes of that or what you found, but I'm not seeing good things. And I really want to plead with all of you. So Teresa, Mark, Joanna, Kathy, Dane, Robbie, Theo, you are pivotal in shaping our beautiful county of Greenwood. And we count on you to hear each of us for or against these data centers and make the right decisions for us as a community. We count on you. Please do not vote for this amendment at this time. Allow it time for us to do more research and study on this because that's the right thing to do for right now. and the right thing for our community. Thank you.

Thank you, ma'am. Mr. Aaron Kahn.

Real quick before I begin, there's a little bit of a static interference if you could just move your cell phones away from the mic. It's creating, if you have any cell phones up there that are closer to mics, interference. Thank you. My name is Aaron Kahn with Press I Guess News Carolina or PIG News for short. As currently written, there is no maximum limit on water consumption, no public disclosure of projected water use, no annual reporting, no enforceable plan for drought conditions. There are no meaningful limits on electrical demand. Accessory uses, as used in this text amendment, is overly broad. Please clarify or narrow it. There is no required economic disclosure showing the number of permanent jobs, average wages, tax incentives, public subsidies, or the true cost of infrastructure upgrades. The requirement that testing be performed by an independent party selected by the county in comparison to the people it directly benefits should be addressed. Further, no requirement that those results be made readily available for public inspection. There's no dedicated financial assurance, no bond or environmental fund to guarantee that taxpayers are not left footing the bill if contamination or other damage is discovered decades from now. But most importantly, this amendment does not adequately protect your water. There is no requirement for independent baseline groundwater testing before construction, no requirement for permanent monitoring wells, no continuing groundwater sampling throughout the life of the facility, no post closure environmental monitoring. I could keep going if I wasn't short on time. Many in this room are familiar with my work, but in case you guys are unaware, please allow me to fill you in. For the past three months, I've independently investigated the former Ascended Performance Plant that borders Lake Greenwood. I've reviewed hundreds, if not thousands of pages of records dating back to 1984 and conducted extensive research into the site. As evidenced by my digging, I successfully established that a pathway is present and the chemicals from that plant are currently migrating through the bedrock carried by the grounded surface water to the creeks, which drain directly into these residents' primary drinking source. If this amendment passes, once these facilities are built, and once public attention moves elsewhere, the only people guaranteed to still be here are the people of Greenwood. I don't live here, and I have no idea if you guys do either, but these people behind me do, and if you care about doing what's right for them, for their children and their children's children, you should already know what to do without all of us having to spell it out for you. If there truly is no current plans for a data center, as you say, then that means that this amendment can truly be pushed back for another month for you guys to get it right for your people. Table the amendment, fix the text, save lives. And respectfully, thank you for your time.

Thank you, Aaron. Kathy, I'm having a hard time reading this. Excuse me. DeWilter? DeWilter? Deathwild. Sorry, Kathy. Got my glasses on, still hard to read.

That's fine. I'm just here as a Hodges resident because there has been rumblings, and I think that we're going to catch the brunt of this thing. and so I wanted to clarify that first and foremost and see if you could explain to us and if there could be some transparency from all of you in reference to where this is going to be located has it already the purchasing you know the property has it already been discussed has it been what are all the steps I mean everything's so secretive and it seems to be kind of getting

um like we're making it a big deal when it's going to be in my backyard and i really i i'm not looking forward to that kathleen let me say that this is a public hearing and for the body we are here to hear okay however however however i want to say and i have said this for weeks now There is no data center project before this council. Anything that may or may happen tonight would only potentially allow us to entertain potential data center builders. There is no data center project, I'm gonna say it one more time, that is before this council.

Well, I think if I were y'all, I would drop this thing, but anyway. For your safety and peace of mind. But anyway, I wanted to know, too, and this is just a question that I'm sure I am not the only one that has this. And if you do entertain the idea in the future, are there going to be incentives to bring these people into here like there always has been? Like, you know, you're giving them special breaks on taxes for 20 freaking years. And that's ridiculous. And I mean, I'm not trying to be ugly, but I'm struggling out here. And I know I'm not the only person in this room. And I know. that everybody in this room is not fond of this. And so if it hadn't been decided, it might be best just to put this thing to bed for a little while. Thank you.

Thank you.

Ms. Emily Poole.

Emily Poole.

Good evening. My name is Emily Poole and I'm the upstate staff attorney at the South Carolina Environmental Law Project. Skelp is a nonprofit public interest law firm, and our mission is to use legal expertise to protect land, water and communities across the state. I'm here to speak on the data center policies that are on your agenda tonight, and I want to begin by acknowledging the work you and your staff have put into these proposals. Enacting responsible regulatory requirements for data centers is an extremely worthy goal because of the intense negative impacts these facilities have upon our environment. Data centers guzzle both water and energy in astronomical amounts, straining essential natural resources and electric capacity and ultimately causing everyday people to subsidize the water and electric bills of these facilities. Further, data centers produce harmful air pollution linked to adverse health outcomes, noise pollution that can be heard 24 hours a day and seven days a week, and thermal pollution as heated water is discharged into waterways that disrupts ecosystems and habitats. Without protections in place, Greenwood County, its natural beauty, and its unique character could be destroyed by sprawling data center development. Still, with recognition and respect for the time and effort put into date, I urge you not to pass Ordinance 2026-19 tonight, but to table it for further consideration. Your discussions so far have coincided with graduations, summer camps, beach trips, weddings, holidays, and other seasonal activities. With a topic this important, every effort must be made to ensure that citizens fully understand what is being proposed and have a meaningful opportunity to provide feedback. In addition, the zoning amendments before you tonight still suffer from major deficiencies, including by one, allowing data centers as a conditional use in the rural development district where they absolutely do not belong, two, failing to place maximum limits on water and electricity use, three, failing to require the mandatory studies be completed and presented to council and the public before any economic incentives are awarded, four, failing to prohibit the use of nondisclosure agreements between the county and data center developers, And five, failing to provide for public hearings as part of the permitting process. Therefore, we are asking you to slow down, take some more time, address the remaining issues in this proposed ordinance, and make sure Greenwood County is as protected as possible. I understand that you all are feeling rushed to pass Ordinance 2026-19 quickly in order to prevent data centers from coming in without any restrictions. However, the solution is not to pass these zoning amendments. Instead, the best way to protect your county is to pass the moratorium on your agenda and invoke the pending ordinance doctrine, which will make it effective starting tonight. This will provide you with the time you need to perfect the zoning changes, just as many other counties are doing, including Newberry, Chesterfield, Colleton, Spartanburg, York, and Anderson. Taking time to implement the protections that your citizens are desperately asking for allows us all to move forward responsibly, transparently, and together. Thank you.

Is it Tracy Brocker?

It's an environmental agency.

Tracy Brocker, is that correct?

Thank you. I worked in IT for most of my career for global organizations. The last corporate application I built and modified or to help manage the global chaos that was created in the supply chain world due to the tariff issues and constant changes that occurred over the last several years. I'm currently working on my own passion project that uses AI and helps all people globally manage health data. I understand the need and the value of data and AI, which requires data centers. I understand the pressures at the C-suite level, and I understand how it all really works. I ran projects with extremely large budgets, global visibility, and was responsible to balance risks versus rewards and clearly communicate where they were at all times and make very difficult calls that were even not popular. This is not a job I would want. So you have my full understanding and respect for the positions you are all in. My concern is from what we have heard, you seem to have one chance to get it right and not much room to fix problems that could occur. I myself would be managing this project for success versus speed. The risks are high and they are not easy to resolve. Thank you.

Thank you. Elise McFarland.

Good evening. I want to start, I want to mention another company that recently put down roots in Greenwood County, EA Sween. Now I'm not an EA Sween employee, but a quick Google search reveals that since deciding to come to Greenwood, they have, they were the first company to partner with Piedmont Tech's Manufacturing Center for Excellence. They've worked with different groups across our three school districts to reduce food insecurity. And in 2023, they were awarded the Corporate Investment and Community Impact Award. recognizing their substantial positive impact on Greenwood. All of this on top of creating 300-ish jobs. EA Sweene chose Greenwood.

Please, excuse me. One of the council members asked that you would get a little closer to the microphone. We're having a little trouble hearing you. Thank you.

Sorry. Thank you. Okay. EA Sweene chose Greenwood because they saw something in our community that aligned with their company's values, and they have poured into our community positively since that decision. Now I want to compare that with what a data center will bring. a hyperscale facility ranging in 200,000 to a million plus square feet, a continuous load of at least a hundred megawatts per year, which equals 867,000 megawatt hours, which is what you see on your utility bills a year. And that is the equivalent of approximately a hundred thousand average American homes. Now the last census Greenwood has about 32,000 homes. So we would be looking at an annual power usage of three times what our community currently uses. In addition, they would bring noise pollution, water consumption, and no more than 35 to 50 jobs as these hyperscalers have already figured out how to automate the monitoring that is required. These hyperscalers didn't choose Greenwood in the same way that companies like EA Sween did. They aren't choosing us for our character, our charm, our values, all the different things that make all these people love Greenwood. They're choosing us because we have space and because they don't see the opportunity for pushback. They're not trying to improve Greenwood County, they're trying to exploit it. I urge you to stand up for this county. I urge you to stand up for this county and table Amendment 2026-19 and pass the moratorium.

Thank you. Athena Haygood.

Hi. I'm not quite as prepared as everybody else was, but my concern is if this company decides, or whatever company you want to come, leaves town, who is going to pay for the cleanup? Is Greenwood County going to be liable to clean up all the mess, all the pollution? It's going to bring in light pollution, noise pollution, water pollution, heat, our infrastructure. I mean, who's going to pay to have the power lines, more power lines put in? And what happens whenever we need to conserve power? Are they going to have to conserve power? Are we going to tell them to shut their power off so we can have power to heat our homes or to air condition our homes? The parameters, I feel like they need to be lot more than what they are at least a mile away from schools from homes we don't know what damage because these things can do to people can they cause cancer we don't know more research needs to be done don't make Greenwood a guinea pig we do not want a data center here I mean you can look at this look around at all these people and I guarantee you if it wasn't the middle of the July close to July 4th there would be a lot more people here I mean listen to us I mean, y'all work for us. We voted y'all in. We can vote you out. Thank you.

Thank you. Jody Johnson. Jody Johnson.

I'm sorry? Jody Johnson, J-O-D-Y-J-O-H-N-S-O-N. Been born and raised here in Greenwood. Grandfather was a respected preacher here in Greenwood. Went to school with one of the council members that are up here. I want to go back to one thing you said, Mr. Lane. If there are no data center projects, What are we in a rush for? You just stated, your exact words, quote unquote, there are no data center projects that are in the works.

Correct.

So why are we here?

I have been... Why are we here? I'm going to answer that question for you. Okay, answer. I have been very transparent on this issue now for weeks and weeks. Okay. Hold on. You ask a question, I'm going to answer it. Okay. The text amendment that was put forward, that was worked through by our staff who worked very diligently to put that in place, we have said, the county government has said that we had a blind spot in our zoning requirements. We had no protections whatsoever in regard to RDD lands. 27.5% of this entire county is RDD. Let me tell you what that means. I'm gonna say it one more time. When people told me it seems like you're rushing to put a text amendment in place, I said you're correct. We are for this reason. Today, today, if someone came into our county and bought land, and wanted to build a data center, they could go to the county government, get their permission letter, and do that with no guardrails, no safeguards, no nothing, and this body could do nothing to stop it.

So why is this body not doing something right now to where we don't have to worry about it?

That's going to be determined, Pastor, later tonight. That's going to be determined later tonight. But that was your question, and that's the answer. Okay. And when I said no projects, that means that we don't have an application under consideration by a company wanting to build a data center.

So all we need to do is shut it down to where we say, as a body, we don't want data centers. Correct. If there's no projects in the works, so we're not hurting nobody's pocket, we can put an end to it tonight, correct? Correct. That's correct. Okay.

This is a question.

Do I have enough time? Pastor, I'm going to remind you again, though, this is public comment. It's not really for us to answer questions. Yeah, it is. So I'd prefer, if you will, make your comment. As a body of citizens, yes, you answer to us.

Right. I agree with that. So I have two questions for you. Number one, on the last public meeting, why did you forward the data center stuff to be passed by so that the encroachment fees would be increased without any representation from anybody i have no idea what you're talking about sir i'm sorry i don't know what you're talking about as people who live on the lake whose encroachment fees were increased to a hundred dollars i think mr temple i can answer that question

He didn't ask you to leave. He just said if y'all were here for the data center deal and you wanted to leave, you could. Everybody got up and left. He didn't tell you to leave. You saw the agenda. You knew what was on it.

You went outside to Robert's rule of order. No, we didn't, sir.

No, we did not.

Look it up. No, we did not.

I'm fully versed in Robert's rule of order, and you're incorrect.

I'll debate with you when we get done with that. Pastor, I'll be happy to do it. Pastor, your time has expired. I'm going to call for the next speaker, please.

That's fine. Mr. Templeton ain't looked up from his phone since he got here.

I'm having trouble reading this. I'm sorry. Is it Jan Keel?

I'll be happy to see you outside, sir. I'm not pointing at you.

You need to calm down. Good evening i'm here because I don't like the thought of data centers i've been here, four and a half years we pick this community to move to from Arizona. Because it was small, it was family oriented and there's a lot of friendly wonderful people here but. I want to talk about this data center. This is not just about where, when a data center comes to Greenwood. It's about neighborhoods and quality of life. I am hoping this amendment is not approved. We need more time to fully understand the consequences of allowing this type of development to be built. air, water, sound interference, and other changes to one's neighborhood. Our neighbors and other residents will lose property value, loss of peace on their home, in their property, and will have no say actually in a location. regarding where it would be built near them. I am so hoping this amendment is not passed. Please take everyone's thoughts into consideration and how you vote on this amendment. I do have one question for you. Do you know that in some parts of our wonderful country, they are allowing small data centers attached to someone's house and they are being paid to have that there? So I think we need to take a longer look at all this, because Lord knows where the technology is gonna be in a few weeks, months, or a couple years. And my other thought is let's attack the zoning. It seems to be a big thing. So why can't we go in the comprehensive plan and decide perhaps where this type of industry would be best located? That's my thoughts. Thank you.

Thank you, ma'am. Julie P. Jones. Julie Jones. Is Julie Jones here?

She's coming.

There we go. Don't fall. We're not in that bigger rush.

I should have sat closer. Sorry. If data centers must come, these regulations are not strict enough. And I agree with you. We do need to get them set in place. let your legacy be strict measurable rules for data centers our amendment is too lax too broad more research is needed it's just not good enough yet 19 percent expansion can happen without approvals and oversights that's not good enough cooling related wastewater can be discharged through other lawful discharge paths. That's an umbrella statement that can include discharging wastewater into the soil. That's not good enough. Not enough oversight over the water. It's not strict enough. Plants and walls are helpful, but they're not soundproof. and the more strict rules that you've put in so far many times do not apply to industrial there are still people out there near industrial so that's not good enough rural development districts should be off the table and not an option they are too close to actual neighborhoods and people in the county and rural development districts can be made light industrial that changes the rules and makes it more lax that's not good enough our water and land must be protected for the future of our town so put a pin in it put it on the table but quickly do your homework and put the key protections in place so that our town is more like a warden over these data centers, not a welcome mat with umbrella statements and lax rules.

Thank you.

I'm sorry, I can't read the first name at all, but the last name is Stokes, lives on Forest Drive. There we go. Thank you. State your name, please. Yeah, I will now.

Good evening, council members. My name is Dino Stokes, 223 Forest Drive West. And to begin with, I'd like to applaud the board members for Uh, making the effort to try to get that language in there to prevent and then I said, like, Spartanburg is dealing with right now. So I do applaud that. But as Mr lane said, if somebody were to come in, you as a board is powerless. But you are all powerful because if you pass something, we, the people. do not have much recourse except to vote you out the next time to get any recourse. So I agree with most of what the residents said. In your amendments, there's a lot of lackness. You say you're going to use the noise control engineering standards. I'm an engineer by profession. You go to their website, you can't see their standards. It's not open to the public. Now, if we use the ANSI standards for noise pollution, then you can buy a cheap meter for $180, a noise meter, to find out if these data centers, if they ever come, go above these levels. And then your amendment doesn't say what happens. Well, if they're over the limit, there's no clarifications and you're gonna shut down your operations. So it would be nice to have, if you have this amendment, you have a noise meter that meets ANSI 1.4 type two requirements that any public citizen can use to monitor that. And then for the water, the electric and all those things like that, I don't know how many people are on Duke legacy rates, but maybe some wording in there to say, as long as the data center here, the water and electric rates are locked in, When they come in, so there is some hazardous waste from computer parts and heavy metals that are not in your ordinance to make sure that's taken care of. So, and then you do, you do not define what an emergency is. So, working legal, you guys with legal. Working with big companies. You know, emergency could mean something different for the data center than it does for the public. So I would think that maybe the definition of what an emergency is. You know, do do power the power supply has been cut off period. Not, you know what I mean? Just a little more definitions in that. And then you need a little more clarification. What happens if some of these things in the. in your amendment happen? What happens if they go over the sensitive use? What's the consequence? So there's really no list of consequences if something happens, if they violate things. And then for the last thing, I would suggest no bond and a letter of credit because that means that data center or whoever comes in has to put in cash and they're gonna lose money if things don't work out, versus a bond where they're just paying an annual payment just to have like an insurance. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Stokes.

Robbie, is it Maynor?

Yes, sir, Maynor. Thank you, sir. Thank you. Good evening and thank you all for the opportunity to address the council. My name's Robbie Maynor, I serve as a policy advocate with the Southern Environmental Law Center. We're based in Charleston, but work throughout the state, and I actually graduated from Lander University here in Greenwood, And so Greenwood County is a very special place for me. I'm here at the request of dozens of residents of Greenwood County that have reached out to our office with concerns about the proposed changes to the zoning code that would allow data centers. And we sent a letter a couple weeks ago raising many of those concerns, and it appears that some of those have been addressed prior to this meeting, including some positive guardrails for on-site power generation. And we really appreciate those improvements. But however, our largest concern with this proposal is allowing data centers in the rural RDD zoning district. And that element has not been addressed. Put simply, as other folks have already said, data centers do not belong in rural areas. These are massive industrial warehouses filled with computer equipment, cooling systems, and polluting generators. They're also extremely resource intensive. Large data centers intended to support AI can use as much electricity as a small city and as much water as thousands of homes can bring light pollution, noise pollution, and other impacts that are particularly impactful in rural areas. And we have seen that this ordinance includes some buffers and noise study requirements that may be appropriate for limiting impacts in industrial areas with industrial land uses, but not at all in rural districts. Further, according to Greenwood County's comprehensive plan, 68.5% of Greenwood County is zoned RDD. So that means that this zoning ordinance as written would allow data centers in most, in fact, two thirds of Greenwood County. If the intent of this ordinance is to limit the areas where data centers can be developed, allowing them in RDD zones does the exact opposite, opening up the majority of the county to data center development. The comprehensive plan also states that RDD zoning is not an appropriate zoning for developing areas. The plan states, quote, As growth continues in the areas historically zoned RDD, these properties should be considered for rezoning to more appropriate residential, commercial, industrial, or mixed use zoning districts. Adding a new industrial land use to this RDD zoning, therefore, would not be in conformance with the comprehensive plan. Fortunately, you have another option available. It's on the agenda tonight, a temporary moratorium that would allow you to pause and really take a comprehensive approach to your zoning code. That is being utilized, that tool, across the state right now. A colleague from Skelp listed some of those already, but just last night, my home county of Colleton County passed a six-month moratorium after a project was developed so they can undertake this comprehensive process to update their comprehensive plan and zoning code. Spartanburg is also considering a moratorium and others have already passed them. So we would strongly encourage you not to approve the zoning amendments and instead to pass this moratorium so that you can take the time to engage the community, hear from the vision, and really take the time to be surgical about this. Mr. Maynard, thank you.

I'm gonna have to call your time. You can be seated, but thank you, sir. Thank you, sir. Tina Escalona. Tina Escalona. There you are. There she is. Closer to the mic, Tina, please. That mic may be turned off. Or you can just move over if you want to.

There we go.

Thank you. Okay, great.

My name is Tina Escalona. I really appreciate the time to come before you tonight. We have had a lot of great speakers. We will have more tonight. Enough to confirm that indeed we do have tremendous gaps in the amendment that's been presented. We believe that RDD should be excluded, but we also believe that I-1 and I-2 should be excluded and that data centers should have a special classification in permitting. Our goal is to have a moratorium passed that will allow you the time to go through and actually create an amendment that works for the citizens. We've been greatly disturbed greatly troubled by the fact that discussions have obviously been ongoing, courting data centers while we've had a Duke Energy representative on our county council. We feel that information gathered before that time has been tremendously biased. We feel that from the research to the visits to the structure strategy and deployment of information throughout our county, utilizing our own county resources against us, we want and deserve protections, finite protections beginning tonight, a moratorium, an amendment that makes sense, that effectively protects us in all of these areas. And we're looking and talking to each one of you as council members. You were elected and your sole primary responsibility is to protect us, protect our interests, protect our financial interests, our safety, and all of the decisions that you make. So please, as you look forward to this pathway, there's only one choice. There's right and there's wrong tonight. And we want to roll call vote for each one of you loud and proud. We want to know, Are you for the citizens? Are you gonna give us a moratorium? And take the time as the attorneys and everyone here that has researched the information, take the time to do this transparently. Start over, don't use biased data. Start over, transparency, fairness, balanced decision making with us involved in this process so that we get the representation that we deserve. When we elected you guys, that's what you were chartered to do, to protect us, and we expect you to do that, each one individually. Roll call, please. And it's either for us or for the data center developers. There's no gray area here. Thank you.

Adam Jackson.

Yes, I'm Adam Jackson. I live on Johns Creek Road in Hodges. And since council mentioned, I think it was in the last meeting, that they were going to go to Ohio and visit some data centers, I decided to do the same thing. I went and I talked to citizens that live around Meta, around Google, around Intel. I talked to people on the streets and nobody was happy about the data centers that were there. In fact, they just passed, they did a ballot initiative so they could override their local government and stop any more data centers from coming. So these things are not popular. The people out here are showing that it's not popular. So if we're gonna do it, let's make sure we do it right. Please table this amendment and Do a roll call vote on a moratorium. The moratorium will protect us. If we have a moratorium, nobody can come in tomorrow and start putting up a data center. So this moratorium is the protection that we are asking for, for you all to do proper research and get the text amendment right if that's the route that you all decide to go. But please, a roll call vote. Show us. Do you stand with the citizens that elected you? Or do you stand with big corporations that care nothing about this community? Thank you. Kevin Griffith.

Hi, my name is Kevin Griffith. I'm a concerned resident of Greenwood, and it's very difficult to follow what I'm having to follow here, so I'll be brief. I wanna commend everyone that worked so diligently to put together these ordinances. However, I have very major concerns about them. They almost read as if they were developed by a data center developer. The first concern I have is regarding the zoning. This has been brought up multiple occasions. I think there's a lot of work out there Science for Georgia and also the National Association of Counties which have put together guidelines for data centers and none of the guidelines in this ordinance even comes close to those guidelines set forth. So as far as the rural development, I think that it's quite clear from the work of Jessica Mason Owens at Science for Georgia where she looked at the 100 plus data centers in Georgia looked at the impact of those data centers on the nearby residents and her conclusions were that these data centers should absolutely not be present near residents. They should be zoned for heavy industrial manufacturing zoning only due to the implications on the environment and also the negative implications on the residents. As far as the noise vibrations, the standards are not met in this current document. The noise at the boundaries is too high, and what's failed to be measured is A weighted sounds and also C weighted sounds. These are guidelines that are present in the NACO document. Also, there is zero language about water restrictions or monitoring of the wastewater and also water consumed. NACO standards recommend water balance studies as well as discharge water quality standards And there's absolutely no mention about long-term studies on water testing or noise pollution. And so finally, the boundaries and the setbacks. These are definitely not up to standard to some of the guidelines put out by NACO and others. They recommend a much longer setback, 200 to 500 feet for residential use. And so it's my opinion, and I think the opinion of a lot of the folks out here, that we should table this document for now until we can do some more research, until we can fine tune this document and make sure that some of these loopholes are closed and move forward on a moratorium vote. Thank you.

Thank you, sir.

Irene Bjerke.

Hi, my name is Irene Bjerke. I live on Reedy Cove. Lane, and I thank you, Mr. Chairman, and council members for the opportunity to speak. I understand the potential income from data centers is very attractive to a community. However, once you review the health impact, such as increased fetal heartbeat, asthma, other health issues, learning delays in children, as well as anxiety and mental health problems from continuous exposure to the noise and light pollution. The potential of that diminishes. Then of course there are the environmental issues. The farm animals, pets, wildlife, water, soil, and so forth. The Planning Commission proposed a 24 month moratorium last month. Let's honor that. Representative McCravey proposed a text amendment that would better protect our community. I realize data centers have become necessary, but not necessarily here in Greenwood County. Some areas of the country may be better suited. Greenwood County is not. Thank you.

Again, I'm having trouble reading this name, but Kingston Road, Tori Miller. Okay, thank you.

As you stated there, Tori Miller, 134 Kingston Road, Greenwood, South Carolina, first chair of the Greenwood Democrats. The moratorium needs to be put in effect as soon as possible with the tabling of the whole idea of data centers. Let me explain why it is in checking. Virginia is having to shut down the power to schools and neighborhoods in order to have enough power to run the data centers and keep them cool. Kansas is having a shortage in their water aqua filler because of the data centers. That's affecting the agriculture and the farmers, as well as the noise is scaring the animals and causing problems. Missouri is fighting pollution even after it's processed the water in the water itself. Data centers only help Google, Amazon, Mito, AI, and the government to keep track of us. We have people's rights. I call a roll call vote to get that tabled and as well as roll call vote for the moratorium. Peace be with you.

Thank you. Bonnie, can't read it, 1709 Highway 246. Bonnie, are you here? There you are.

Thank you. I think everybody has said I left my long form out in the car because it became a little brash. I broke it brash and rash when I looked at it. After all of the speaking that was done, it said basically, how I feel about data centers. They really don't belong here and more research needs to be done. I wanted to know when I came in, I was confused that you were voting on zoning first and then voting on whether you would put the moratorium in effect after. Isn't that like putting the horse before the cart or something like that? I mean, that would appear to me that that's the way it would be, but I don't know. I'm just mentioning it. Also, is there not a way that the people of Greenwood County can vote for this or against it on bringing data centers in and not put it through the county council, not put it through the building or people or all the rest of the people in Greenwood. Just put it to the people alone. Whatever... Whatever the outcome of tonight's meeting, you have to understand, once these wheels are in motion, and all of you are adults up there, like I am, once the wheels are in motion, there's no turning back, no room for tears of regret. What's done is done, and it will be a done deal. And I just want to tell you, Proverbs 19.2 says, enthusiasm without knowledge is no good and haste makes mistakes. So don't be too hasty about what you're going to do. And again, I don't understand the voting of the zoning about bringing them in prior to the moratorium. It doesn't make sense to me, but then there's a lot of things that don't make sense to me that goes on.

Thank you, Bonnie. James Hollingsworth.

James Hollandworth, live at Townsend Road up at Hodges. I understand that the industrial complex up there may be one of the sites that y'all are looking at. Now, I understand y'all said you've been transparent. But what I've been hearing, y'all have been contacted by three different places just wanting to put data centers here in Greenwood. Is that correct?

I made that statement publicly.

Okay. Yes, sir. That's what I thought. But then on the other hand, you say, y'all not looking at any data centers. So two and two don't add up before. And I'm not Einstein. But I'm going to tell you, Theo knows me. I don't bite my tongue. This is a bunch of bull. Why are we even in a meeting if we're not having data centers, if we're not looking at them? I mean, what's the benefit to Greenwood if a data center comes here? They don't employ that many people. The noise from it, I was reading this week, the noise from them can go anywhere from a half mile to five miles, according to the atmospheric conditions, all kinds of things is involved. I mean, it just, it don't make any sense. And it seems like here lately, every time I turn around, I haven't been to a meeting in Greenwood in 50 years, up to this year. I'd have been to three. for different things that y'all are doing. And I mean, it don't make sense. Why are we up here in this meeting if y'all are not looking at data center? Why aren't we even talking about it? Why come you can't block it? If I decide to go out here and build a casino, you going to block it? Is that correct? I mean, y'all saying you can't block nothing. I don't believe it.

The moratorium's before us tonight. We can block it.

You can block it if you pass the moratorium.

Yes, sir.

After the moratorium goes out a year from now, you're saying somebody buys land, they can still come in here and build it if they go by this ordinance. Is that correct?

A year from now, a lot can change in a year, James. I don't know how to answer that.

Boy, y'all know what I'm talking about, every one of you do, and I don't believe you, and I don't believe you, the one, I don't believe you are behind all this. I think all of you up there need to get together and decide what's best for Greenwood. And I ain't talking about just council, I'm talking about Toby and all of you. I mean, it's not right for one person to get the blame for all of it.

Yeah, I would agree with that statement, but go ahead.

Well, I'm serious. I mean, y'all a council that's supposed to represent us, and it's not getting done. Like all these zone and orders that's been coming up. I mean, I know we hear about the data center, but just look at all the other stuff that's been coming up here lately. We shouldn't be even having meetings. Greenwood has been known as a rural, beautiful town for the people. But yet, we're getting overrun down here. I mean, just like it's industrial complex, it's nice to have jobs on it. But Highway 25 up there, the traffic on it has tripled in the last three or four years. You can't even hardly come out of Townsend Road up there and get on 25. Somebody's gonna get killed right there in that one spot. I mean, just like you go to town now, you used to, I'm retired, I can go to town and pick out a 30. I can go to town and... Is this time now?

Are you trying?

The time's up.

I'm sorry, James. I think maybe people were applauding. I didn't hear the chime. Yeah, I think so, but thank you.

Okay.

I apologize, Council. I couldn't hear the timer. Mr. Richard, is it Richard Crow? 113 Cobblestone? Yes, sir. Thank you, sir. These lights are blinding, guys. I can't see you when you stand up, so Bear with me.

For those of you who don't know, Mr. My name is Richard Crowe. For those of you who don't know Richard, he is an esteemed former councilman on this council.

Hey, Robbie. How are you? Welcome, Richard. Robbie and I served on council together for seven and a half years.

Yes, we did.

Been a long time ago, hasn't it, buddy?

It's seemingly like so.

My name is Richard Crowe. I live at 113 Cobblestone. I'm not here tonight to argue about your authority to pass ordinance or the authority you have to for the data saying what I'm here to talk to is you council members as representatives of the citizens of Greenwood County. I grew up in Greenwood County. I live my entire life until 10 years ago. I had to move to Greenville for health reasons to get my wife post her doctor in the hospital. But I just moved back three months ago and I want to appeal to you to consider the fact that When I was on County Council, I was on the Economic Development Board in Greenwood, Upstate Alliance of Economic Developers. I went to the College of Charleston and studied Economic Development. So I'm not speaking out of turn. But I want you all to remember that when I was on the Chamber of Commerce, we did our 100th anniversary of Greenwood County. Robert was there. The first thing we did when we went around and met all the new people that was coming in with Fuji and all the other new plants and questioned them is, why did you pick Greenwood? The answer that we always got was the low cost of living and the quality of life. What you're proposing to do now is going to hurt both of those. It's definitely going to hurt our quality of life. And the other thing is we're working under an already overstressed utility system. The metro sewer's overcapacity, the water plant's overcapacity, new power's overcapacity. Where are we going to come up with all these facilities? The taxpayers are going to have to pay for expansions to all of that. That's not fair. All I ask is you consider these people out here are the ones that put you in office. These people out here are the ones that are gonna get you back in office again. And they're the ones that pay taxes in Greenwood County. So use your conscience or whatever you need to do and do what's best for these citizens. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Richard. Russ Fitzgerald.

Good evening. I'm Russ Fitzgerald. I'm here to call on County Council to delay voting on Ordinance 2026-19. Delay the vote or table the vote. Because this ordinance does not adequately protect our homes, our health, or our livelihoods. According to the index journal on Friday, planning staff has admitted that version A, which to my knowledge is the most recent and the only version that's been published of this amendment doesn't do enough. So there's a version B, but the public hasn't seen version B. And having two versions of this zoning change at the same time, one of them undisclosed, that's a clear sign this ordinance is not ready. This ordinance needs so many changes, we should really just start over and do a new one. This time with open meetings and public input. From the first reading in title only of this ordinance, it's been framed as an emergency measure to fix zoning code gaps where there's this desperate need for immediate action to prevent this unforeseen arrival of a data center somewhere. But we got two members of this council right now and the county's economic development director. And y'all were all involved when the county's former economic development agency began marketing council-controlled property in Greenwood County as a potential data center site. And that was in 2018. So why is there a rush now without adequate deliberation and citizen input? All due respect, y'all, you had eight years. There was plenty of time. There was plenty of time to address this issue and get it right, instead of it being a scramble. Right now, what it looks like is you're rushing a patchwork of regulations, and some of them are borrowed from places that are literally overrun with data centers. That's not the answer. There are so many problems with this ordinance that have already been presented to the council. They're going to be stated by others tonight. There was a statement earlier today that this text amendment quote, creates stronger guidelines than those in other communities. All due respect, that's a very low bar. This ordinance is not enough. This is not adequate protection for this community. Data centers are unlike any other industry that Greenland County has ever encountered. They pose unprecedented environmental and health risks. 2026-19 will not protect our people or our environment. And the people of Greenwood County do not want to be guinea pigs. So we strongly, strongly urge you, follow the example of our neighbors just over the Georgia line in Augusta. Last night, they delayed a vote on their data center ordinance, and they've extended their moratorium. So delay this vote. Thank you.

Thank you. Walter Kimball.

Good evening, Mr. Chairman. Good evening. Esteemed members of the County Commission, many, many friends and neighbors. I want to talk for my three minutes on what's going on with the public safety concerns regarding emergency responses to data centers. And it is all over the place. And I brought up this issue at the meeting we had a week ago. And specifically, there is an apparent and emergent need for readiness, training and response mechanisms and protocols for our emergency responders. I raised that issue and I was told by a member of the government that it would be funded through tax dollars. Folks, we should not, when we have a hybrid response mechanism to emergencies brought about by a new or unique business or entity coming to the county, that should not fall on all of the taxpayers. It should fall on the company that's bringing forth these concerns. Okay? Thank you. Now, very specifically, there's an area of Ohio that's a hotbed, apparently, of data centers. Jerome Township. They had a single Amazon data center fire that burned for 30 hours. They didn't have all the specialized equipment to do it. And secondly, then it became a mutual aid situation where other counties had to come in and help them because their folks were tired. Further, the International Association of Firefighters said right now most fire departments cannot respond to data center fires or emergencies as they would in other buildings because they put forth specific power infrastructure needs and the potential for chemical fires. So what I'm purporting here is that we table this revised ordinance here that we're talking about tonight And let's look at some best practices from across the country. And this is evolving very rapidly on what our first responders need to safeguard themselves, the property, and ultimately the citizens. Because when we have a fire that burns for 30 hours, that's taking personnel away that could possibly be responding to another incident. And I want to be clear here, and I'm not just talking, this more goes to a unified ordinance, where not just a data center, any type of business that comes in where our first responders need specialized training, equipment, and protocols to adequately provide safe responses need to be put in the ordinance.

Thank you, Walter. Thank you, sir. Appreciate it. Debbie Turner.

My name is Debbie Turner and I live at 306 Gentry Run. As president of StaffSource, I was involved in risk management for nearly 20 years. I worked with the finest people anywhere and continually evaluated partnerships to ensure that the best interest of my company, my clients, and my employees were balanced in a way that honored my Lord Jesus. If an opportunity unfairly favored one party, it was rejected before it began or the imbalance was corrected immediately. When new regulations put my employees in an unconscionable position, I closed my nearly 20-year-old company one day before they took effect. My commitment to God simplified choices like these, and it created a legacy of friendships and integrity that endures today. I invite you to allow the Lord's standards to set your course as well. This is a pivotal moment. You're writing a legacy tonight that we and future generations will read. Only you know what is driving your decision, but the way you've gone about it, skirting the planning commission for first reading and ignoring their recommendation, insisting our rural lands be permitted for data centers, telling us nothing to see here while talking to at least three, and relentlessly pushing an amendment that drains finite resources while calling it protection has seriously undermined your credibility with us. We elected you to conduct proper risk management, not spin management. but it doesn't have to be this way. You can start fresh and rebuild this trust with our support. I had to balance the interest of three parties, but you only have one job, and it is not serving the interest of trillion dollar corporations or your personal agendas, but to represent only the interest, values, and welfare of Greenwood citizens. Our families have the right to health, safety, clean air, abundant water, ample power, stable property values, and the peaceful enjoyment of our homes. Will you now use the position we've assigned to you to take what is most precious and give it to another? We call on you to reject this amendment and pass an immediately effective moratorium. A vote by a few should not override the will of the people. That's undeniably wrong. And I'd like to believe integrity still matters to you as well. Don't be on the wrong side of history. In the end, the decision before you tonight isn't really about economic development, power, water, land, or noise. It's this. Choose this day who you will serve. We, your friends and neighbors, we're witnesses to your choice.

Thank you, Debbie. Susie Pate.

Hello, my name is Susan Pate. I live in 102 Reedy Cove Place. Having said, there's nothing else I can say that everyone hasn't said here before. We've all given you the information. There's no more research. You've got it. We gave it to you. The answer is you be the line in the sand. Greenwood is not for sale. Pass the ordinance that we cannot or will not host a data center. That's all there is to it. It's very simple. You're wasting more time, everybody's effort. We've given you the facts. It's right there. Every county and state that has a data center is telling us they're the cautionary tale. Don't do it. Don't allow them to do it. And that's all there is to it. Stop. Just stop, say no, refuse it, and say move on, go on to some other county. Joanna may need it, Calhoun Falls may need it, but we don't. Just say no.

Andrew Todd.

Hey, my name's Andrew Todd. I'm probably not as nice as the rest of these people. Both my parents are dead and I don't cheat on my wife, so I really don't care what any of you think of me. If you don't like your job, then step down. But if you go against the community and vote in any way or allow this to happen in our community, the definition of terrorism is to invoke fear into the community through threat of harm. The fear is here, the harm will be here when the data center hits here. Now, you can hide behind immunity for now, but America can change those laws and hold people accountable.

Ms. McIntyre, unless you have additional names, I think that concludes public comment. Is that correct? We are now at 645. We're going to take a 10 minute recess in the event that anyone needs to take a bathroom break or stretch your legs. We'll be back here at 655. Thank you. Having completed public comment, we're going to move now into the portion of our agenda reserved for presentations. We have no presentations tonight, but I do want to remind you that if you spoke during public comment, there will be no need for you to speak again during public hearing. So just a reminder of that, keep us from being in here till midnight. We'll move now into old business. Item A, Ordinance 2026-19, to amend the Greenwood County Zoning Ordinance, being Ordinance 13-86, as and if amended so that Section 6315 Section 6343, Section 6344, I-2 Heavy Industrial District, and Section 6347, RDD Rural Development District, be amended to add data centers as a conditional use. Mr. Rushin, our Deputy County Manager for Operations, please come forward and give information on that.

Thank you for allowing me to speak tonight. I do want to thank everyone for being here tonight. I'm very passionate about my job, And I'm glad to see a bunch of passionate people out here tonight also interested in what we do. So I want to thank everyone for coming tonight. Three months in the making, hundreds of hours spent by staff, two formal public hearings, one informal public question and answer session last week, hundreds of public comments, which I personally took notes on every speaker, make sure we looked at their concerns, thousands of social media posts. Yes, I look at those and I read those. Dozens of technical reports, hundreds of news articles. I'm really surprised I haven't gotten a virus through all this for all the links I clicked on to make sure I was gaining that information. Input from citizens, consultants, experts, lawyers, and of course, politicians. This is how the process is supposed to work, all right? This is how we should be doing things. You put something out there, it gets scrutinized. You work on it some more, it gets scrutinized again, and so on. I want to make clear that the amendment that we started with I do not feel was deficient. I am on record as saying I believe it was a good amendment that accomplished what we wanted to do, but council and public wanted us to work on it more to alleviate additional concerns, and so we did. You end up with a product at the end that you can be proud of. You're right. I live in RDD. The land around me is RDD. And with the conditions of this amendment, I would not have a problem with a data center locating in my backyard. I think that is a standard. I think that is a standard as staff we should strive for. With that being said, I want to move on to the actual amendment and go through it. Data centers. 3 months ago I was asked if it was addressed in our current zoning ordinance and it was not doesn't appear there. More looking at it by right we felt like it could be placed in our D D the rural development district with little no restrictions. Since then and in consultation with Ryan I believe it also could be allowed by right and I too I think there's a gray area there as well. By definition, the purpose of RDD is not to restrict the use of land, but to regulate the manner in which the land is development. That comes right from our ordinance. Also from our ordinance, a building or premise may be used for any purpose unless elsewhere prohibited. Data centers are not elsewhere prohibited in our zoning ordinance. Minimal restrictions will be applied if developed in RDD under the current standards, front setback of 50 feet, side and rear setbacks based on side of building, but 130 feet for a 100,000 square foot building. BUFFER YARDS TO RESIDENTIAL COULD BE LITTLE AS 40 FEET OF FULL VEGETATION OR 100 FEET WITH NO VEGETATION, AND NO SENT LEVEL OR NOISE OF LIGHT RESTRICTION. OBVIOUSLY, WE DON'T WANT TO DEVELOP UNDER THOSE CONDITIONS. ADDING CONDITIONS TO THE PROPOSALS TO ADD CONDITIONS SPECIFIC FOR DATA CENTERS IN I-1, I-2, AND RDD. I-1 AND I-2 BEING APPROPRIATE FOR INDUSTRIAL USE AND RDD BEING WHAT WE WOULD CALL LACK OF ZONING OR A CATCH-ALL FOR essentially anything can be developed in our D D as per the current ordinance. So the conditions. We went with a conditional use permit has been required. I think this gives us great latitude we don't have to say we can say no for any reason. Any reason. Our water and soil will look at noise light environmental conditions setbacks and buffers will look at decommissioning plan and financial security for the county. Looking first at power, water, and sewer. It's required written verification from providers on capacity, safety, and impact. We now require closed-loop cooling systems. They're mandated. I felt that it was assumed in the first version that we sent, but now we spell it out in this current version. Conditions on discharge of wastewater. No use of groundwater wells except for irrigation. Again, I felt that was included in the first version, but we spell it out in the current version. Internal combustion engines only used for backup or emergency power. Noise. Sound study required both pre and post construction. Studies conducted by mutual agreed upon third parties. As-built studies as required by the zoning administrator. If we feel they are not meeting the conditions of the permit, a conditional permit allows us to go back and we put the exact language in the amendment that we can go back and have additional studies done to determine whether they are meeting the conditions or not. Limit of 60 decibels at the property line. 60 decibels is normally referred to as normal conversation. So the amount of noise at the property line would be normal conversation. Internal combustion generation testing only during business hours. Only between the hours of 9 and 5. Noise reduction barriers on mechanical equipment, mandated. As for light, the concerns, the lighting plan required, restriction on lighting horizontal surfaces such as the ground, parking, et cetera. Restrictions on lighting non-horizontal surfaces like walls and signs. Light trespass limits for residential and non-residential. These are all covered in the amendment. After hours reduction of lighting by 50%. Again, covered in the amendment. Even color temperature requirements not exceed 3,000 K. From the environmental standpoint, again, we added this in the current version, but I believe in the original version, these are studies that would be done anyway. Phase one environmental study, a phase two environmental study as needed, wetland delineation, threatened and endangered species evaluation, archeological and historical investigation, all requirements. Geotechnical subsurface exploration. Again, requirements. These are all tests that normally are done either part of due diligence on a particular parcel. However, we put in the amendment that we want copies of. We want to see them. We want to read them and find issues with them. We can deny a permit on those issues. And finally, an SPC plan with spill prevention control and countermeasures. We talked a lot about setbacks. We decided on minimum set the 200 foot setback from all property lines of sensitive use and we define sensitive use as an approved residential use of zoning district or school daycare center, hospital, place of worship, designated park or public open space. In a change, we wanted to make sure that we were far enough away from those sensitive uses while still adhering to what most of our industrial property regulations were. So we added the minimum a 1000 feet from building to building for a sensitive use. So data center could not locate within a 1000 feet of a residence, a school, a daycare center, a hospital, a place of worship, a park or public open space. 200 foot to the property line, but a 1000 foot to any of those sensitive uses. So that's a building to building setback. Minimum 100 feet to all other non-industrial user zoning, typically commercial or that sort of thing. Minimum 75 feet from property line adjacent to another industrial user zone. Buffer yards. Sometimes we can get confused about what a buffer yard is. Setbacks is all about distance. Buffer yards, in this case, we're talking about vegetation. How much vegetation are we going to put between a data center and a sensitive use? All right. So it's going to be set by the size of the building. It can be natural or planted, but we have specific vegetation requirements in there that are greater than anything else we have in the zoning ordinance. For a building less than 100,000 square feet, we have a 100-foot depth of vegetation for sensitive use. You essentially have a 100-foot forest between a data center and a sensitive use. Building between 100 and 250,000 square foot, we have 120 foot. We increase it by another 20 foot. Another 20 foot for 250 to 500,000 for a building over 500,000 square feet. We have a 200 foot deep. Buffering of vegetation between the data center building and a sensitive use. You're going to have in a very large data center building. You're going to have a 200 feet of forest of vegetation. Between that data center and and any sensitive use. And then in the roadside buffer, we also included a 10-foot high berm, one to partially block view of the building. And then that roadside buffer, we also are going to allow security buildings in that, because typically these are where the security buildings are located. We talk about decommissioning of financial security in the amendment. There's a decommissioning plan required prior to giving a permit for conditional use. Sets terms under which a data center would be deemed to have ceased operation. Something we added to make sure that we spelled out exactly when decommissioning would need to take place. There's a financial security. 125% of the cost of the decommissioning, dismantling, removing, and disposal of the equipment. Other requirements that are in the amendment. Refuse collection screening, ground mounted mechanical and electrical equipment screening, and location requirements. I think this was a big one for people when we start talking about the mechanical equipment. It all has to be screened. Rooftop mechanical equipment has to be screened as well. Electric substation screening and location requirements can't be located within the setback area. Perimeter fencing needs to be black when it's visible by the public or adjacent to a residential property. An emergency contact information posted. In summary, Again, I think that the conditions specifically chosen to address most common complaints. Nearly all conditions are over above was required of any other industry. I missed one slide in here, not sure how I did it, but in your packet you had 2 versions. All right version a in your packet is the version that we gave you at the last Council meeting okay, it's also the version that was released to the public about 1011 days ago. and it's the version that we reviewed at a public question and answering session last Tuesday. From that public question and answering session, we came up with two changes that staff felt was important to listen to the people and make some changes based upon feedback from that meeting. The first change, both are fairly minor, but they were important to people and we felt that it was something we should include. Version B, under the noise section, as a change in how we measure noise. In the first version, version A, we say DBA, that we're going to measure decibels on an A-weighted scale. In the meeting last week, there was some concern that lower tones and stuff would measure low on an A-weighted scale, but on the DBC-weighted scale, they would measure much higher. Now typically, and again, when we looked at this for the first version, we felt that The A scale was the proper scale to use. Obviously a lot of feedback from people. We decided that we changed it from DBA to the straight term decibels. This would mean that they would have to meet any scale for that decibel rating of 60 or 70 decibels. So it's just what scales we're measuring the decibels on. We're not just gonna measure them on the A scale, we're gonna require they be measured on all scales to meet that decibel level. The second change in version B, was to remove the word commissioning in regard to backup generators. There was some concern at last week's meeting that having the word commissioning in there might be viewed as an extended period of time that a data center operator could run backup generators during a commissioning period. I did not necessarily agree with that. I felt that language was there, but Again, to alleviate that concern, we've removed the word commissioning for when backup generators could be used. So it's only during emergencies and testing of those generators. So those are the two changes in the version B you have in the packet. Obviously, staff recommends approval of version B this evening. I can take any questions you might have.

Mr. Rex.

Yes, sir.

And somebody had to ask me if it's reciprocating internal combustion engines. Rice. I don't think it is. Let me close it to you. I'm messing with the button. How about now? Yeah, I think you need to pull it closer. I don't think so. Would that eliminate any natural gas power for primary?

If natural gas power, if it went through an internal combustion engine, yes it would. That you could only use internal combustion, reciprocating internal combustion engines, that's where you put it into a chamber, you explode it, it reciprocates that piston up and down and generates work or force. So whether it's gas, diesel, natural gas, propane, however, an internal reciprocating internal combustion engine could not be used for a primary source of power, could only be used for emergency backup power and your normal testing that you're going to do to make sure you keep those generators up and running properly. and that testing could only occur between the hours of 9 and 5 each day.

So that would effectively take out any natural gas possibilities as primary?

Reciprocating engines, yes. Okay. Backup, emergency backup only.

Yeah, I think the confusion Rob is we're not talking about powering the data center. We're talking about the backup generation. Correct?

Yeah, no, no, with reciprocating engines. We are not allowing internal combustion engines to provide primary power to a data center. All right you can't run a data center on a diesel. Right?

Correct. The only time that could apply would be in their backup generation, right? Their backup generation.

Emergency backup generation. Should they be disconnected from the electrical grid?

And that testing is 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., that's correct.

Other questions you might have?

Hearing none. Council, you have heard the presentation by Mr. Rushin. What's your pleasure?

Mr. Chairman, I'd like to offer a motion to deny the text amendment as proposed, to simply amend it to exclude, deny data centers from not only RDD, but I1 and I2, and then hopefully that will give us time to explore the possibility of creating a brand new zoning classification for data centers, which would require each developer to apply for rezoning and properly vet them for the site they are requesting. Thank you.

Okay, counsel, you've heard, is there a second to this motion?

Yes, Mr. Chairman, I second that a motion.

Okay. We have a motion by Ms. Miller, a second by Mr. Allison. Now, this will require then that first we vote to accept that motioned amendment, and then we'll have to vote on that amendment. Correct, Madam Attorney? Yes. Mr. Allison.

Discussion.

Please.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Let me say real quick tonight, thank you for coming. I, as one member of council, have heard you loud and clear. And I want to say to start with that... There has been a lot of misinformation, okay? And it always happens that, you know, It's just part of social media. A lot of things are not true that have been said. And I will tell you that I made a commitment when I took this seat that I will always be honest and transparent. And the day that I cannot do that, you don't have to vote me out. I will walk out. So let's tell the truth, okay? Let's tell the truth. Mr. Lane is correct. He has not lied to you. We are not negotiating a deal with any data center presently, okay? But let's go on to say what we are doing is we are putting ourself in the market for a data center. That's the truth. That's the truth. The truth is the amendment is there to put us in the market for a data center. That's the truth. And let me tell you my problem with it. Problem number one I have is that we as members of this council have appointed members of a zoning board, us, we put them on there, some of them, and they said, we need a moratorium. We have our state representatives that have come before us and said, we need a moratorium. I've been on council 16 years. I'm the second most senior member here tonight. I have never received the calls, the emails, the texts, and the concerns that I have concerning this issue. And then tonight, to add on to it, we had somebody in the environmental community who spoke very fluent, very educated in the environmental impacts that are possible in it. And I just don't know how, as I, as one member of this council, can just ignore all that. I can't do it. I cannot ignore the overwhelming, I can't take the position, and I don't know, Mr. Rushton here knows a whole lot more about data centers than I do, but I don't know enough to say. This chairman and members of this council will testify to this. What I wanted to do, and I felt like this council needed to do early in the game, was to do exactly what we, the motion is tonight. Take data center. You cannot put a data center in RDD. You can't put it in I-1. You can't put it in I-2. Let's make a special ordinance, take our time, and get it right. And the problem is, this is just the facts with my colleagues up here. The public don't trust us with this. They don't trust us. And the reason they don't trust us is We've done amended it five times since we put it out there. So what else have we missed? I mean, how many more meetings do we need to have for more input to get this right? I mean, it just seems to keep changing. It changed at this meeting. This was brought up, and one member of council made a comment to me, said, well, we're trying to do what the public wants. No, we're not. The public wants a moratorium. So I second it tonight, and I hope that we can fill this tonight and move on to a moratorium. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Allison. Other comments or questions?

Mr. Chairman.

Yes, sir, Vice Chairman.

Now that I have a working microphone. Thank you all for coming out tonight and expressing your concerns and feelings on the subject. And I think I said a lot at the last meeting and made my feelings known. I will give staff credit. We did start a search to see if there were any counties out there that had a separate zone for data centers and none were found at the time. We can continue to look for that, but. I too will be in support of the denial that Ms. Miller has proposed. And I believe that there are a lot of things going on right now and that we need to take a deep dive, hard look at it. And that is why we got together and wrote the moratorium ordinance. So I too will be voting in favor of the denial. Thank you.

In regard to 2026-19, any other comments or questions?

Just a clarification. Ms. Miller added RDD I-1 and I-2. Is that correct?

To exclude or deny data centers in I-1, I-2, and RDD. Yes.

RDD I 100% agree with. I'm not sure I agree with I-1 and I-2. Thank you. I appreciate it.

Thank you. Hey, folks, we didn't shout you down during your comments. I would appreciate the same concern. Any other comments by council?

Ms. Miller. Mr. Chairman, I'll speak. I want to thank everybody for coming. And in the beginning, I didn't want to have to deal with data centers either. But one thing about me is the Lord has blessed me with a great mind and I've always asked questions. I've always sought out what I should do and asked God to show me what to do as well. And I'm so thankful to serve with everybody and I'm thankful for the administration. I feel like everybody's done a really good job of working hard and providing us with the information as well as allowing us the opportunity to go to data centers and just ask questions. I've actually been on two separate visits. And one thing I can say is I've had the same fears as you guys. I really have. But you've said a lot tonight, and I'm so thankful for each one. But I'm going to tell you, it's very different being out there versus being here. It really is. And I love Greenwood. I've got four children that I've raised here in Greenwood. And I've had a lot of struggle in my life. I love Greenwood, though. And that's why I'm serving. For me, I think that everything that you guys, especially at the different times we've spoken, we've listened to you guys, everything has been addressed. may not have been addressed to the point that you want it to be addressed, but it has been addressed. And I'm very, like I said, the administration that we work with, Greenwood is blessed. We're blessed beyond measure. And I didn't get to see that when I was just a regular citizen and not serving. But because I am serving, I've gotten to see that. And I'm very thankful to be a part of Greenwood For me, I can clearly tell you, I don't want a moratorium. I'm not fearful. I want us to be able to work to make sure that whatever we bring to Greenwood is best for Greenwood. We had CPW here. We had Duke Energy here. We had Metro here. They are CPW and Metro. They have said, we've lost a lot of business. We could use this business. We have, let me, hold on. No, listen, did I interrupt you guys when you guys spoke? Did I interrupt you? Come on, let me tell you something. Let me tell you something.

What you- Votes, please, a little respect would be nice.

Yeah, please, let me tell you. For me- You're hurting the cause. For me, Yeah, we got emails, we got phone calls, I got text messages, and I'm thankful and I listen and I'm respectful. Seriously, when we elect people, we elect people, and we should make sure that we have respect for them. Even if...

I'm going to ask the Deputy Sheriff to remove you if you shout from that audience one more time. Do you understand? We aren't going to shout you down. We're going to treat everyone in this room with respect. Shout out again, you're going to the parking lot. Continue, please.

The thing about it is everybody who actually serves as an elected official in our country, we're blessed to have them serve for us. from the top down, our president, all the way down to our county council, our city council, our school board members. It's a very important job. And the thing about me, is I have to look at all of the information. Even some of the information that I heard tonight wasn't all the way right. The thing about Greenwood is we can't sustain a hyperscale data center anyway. That's not even what we're looking at. So my thing is I just want to make sure that I have to vote based on the information that I've learned. Being a county council person is a daily job. It's not just about data centers. It's not. It's about the budget. It's about every single thing that happens with Greenwood County. And it's very important to me. But that's pretty much all I wanted to say. Thank you guys for listening. And thank you for coming.

I knew coming into this, I'm going to speak for just a moment, I knew coming into this meeting tonight that there would be tremendous passion. There's been tremendous passion throughout this process. In the last eight weeks, I've been called a thief, a liar, basically a criminal. I've been accused of being in bed with industry, which is just ridiculous. I've been accused of just about everything. Last week, the last accusation was that I had had two homes purchased for me. Two homes purchased for me. A place at North Myrtle Beach, which, by the way, my father bought in 1963, and a football condominium in Columbia, which is my brother's residence. That's just one of the many lies that have been told about me in the last several months through this process. But I'm very appreciative to my friend, Mr. Allison, who has publicly said, I have never lied to anyone about anything in this process. My interest in data centers in Greenwood County is, was, and will only be if it were the right project under the right circumstance in the right place that benefited this county. I was accused of having conflicts of interest as a county council member and a county council chairman in regard to Duke Energy. Let me tell you all what the fact is. For now almost 10 years of serving you, and I'm proud to serve you, I'm proud to serve my district. For now almost 10 years, I have recused myself on every single issue that was rated to that power company that I retired from. The county attorney will tell you that there are recusal documents in every case that certify that, and they're in the archives. Not only, if you watch the county council meetings, you would also see that in most cases, I got up and left the room and didn't even participate in conversations. Is that correct or not, Madam Attorney? That's correct. Even tangentially, And I'll give you an example. When in the early years of my service, when this body, as we were constructed at that time, had solar developers coming out of the woodwork, hitting us continuously for rezoning to build solar arrays, I recused from those issues. You know why? because I knew that those developers didn't really want to build and operate solar farms. They wanted to get it approved and get the site set and hope that Duke Energy would buy that from them. Those weren't direct issues involving the power company, but I even recused in those. So when people accuse me of having conflicts and being in the pocket of Duke Energy, that's just a lie. And I'm sorry that I had to go down that path, but I'm tired of being lied about. Now, tonight, I'm reluctant to vote for Ms. Miller's proposal. I'm not saying it's a bad proposal, but I know how hard our staff has worked to try to listen to you all and bring the changes forward, as Mr. Rushin said, that we heard you say you wanted. I am opposed to a moratorium, but not for the reasons you might think that I am. I'm opposed to a moratorium because I believe that it will negatively impact all industry sectors that have interest in Greenwood County. The reality is I don't care if a data center sites in Greenwood County or not. But what I do care about is that we have the opportunity to evaluate and investigate and determine, because I'm gonna tell you all something you may not know. Two weeks ago, I was as honest as I could be when nobody wanted to say how many interests have come to Greenwood County. We're not recruiting data centers, folks. But three companies, had come forward expressing interest in our county. We kicked one of them out because we didn't think they were quality. That leaves two that are still interested in our county, two. But my interest in not wanting a moratorium is only to allow us to evaluate, communicate, and decide. As I said again tonight, we don't have a project. But here's what you may not know. Tonight, when we vote on this moratorium, we have calculated, nobody wants to talk about the monetary value to this county of a data center. It's like, ooh, that's terrible. Don't talk about money. Well, it takes a lot of money to run this government. And it takes more with every year. And every year, Stephanie Doran, our treasurer, jumps through hoops and I think magically finds a way for us to balance our budget. But right now, one of those interests One of those interests would pay this county 30 to 40 million dollars a year for the next 30 years. You just heard Mr. Rushen talk all about the protections, decommissioning and all those things. 30 to 40 million dollars a year. So for me, as one council member, I hear all the time from my body and my colleagues the things we would love to be able to do for you all and for everyone else in this county. Expand our public transportation system so that the elderly can get to doctor's appointments and grocery stores. That would be something I'd want to see. Certainly you all have heard how much it would do for education. The county manager made the comment to me several weeks ago, we could build a new school every five years and pay cash for it. Public safety, EMS, fire and police. Every year the sheriff comes to us with more needs for public safety. And guess what? We don't have the money to do it and we have to say no or we have to limit that. The list goes on and on, my friends. The list goes on and on. So would I like to see potentially a data project if it were the right project in the right place with the right protections? Yes, I would. And that's why I'm not in favor of a moratorium. Only because I've asked the question of my colleagues. I know what we stand to lose. Tell me what right now we stand to gain with a moratorium. Tell me if you think the text amendment will be so fundamentally different a year from now than it is today. But I do believe that when Mr. Bateman warned us that a moratorium would impact our competitiveness across all sectors, I've worked in this area a long time, he's right. I will also tell you that I do not believe that next year, regardless of what we're being told, that the General Assembly is going to solve this problem. You have a newly elected governor, And I've been told that we have a Speaker of the House who does not want to see that come forward. I started to call him yesterday, because I used to work with him, and I thought, no, I'm not going to put him on the hot seat. And I'm sorry that I got on the soapbox, but I'll tell you all one thing right now, and I am like Mr. Allison in this regard. If I ever come to believe that the people of Greenwood County don't trust Theo Lane, think I'm a liar, a cheat, and a thief, you won't have to worry about not voting for me, because I'll take my exit and go someplace else. Because I have never, never one time, one time in my service ever lied to anyone I represent. I'm sorry that was long. Ms. Miller. Restate your motion, please, ma'am.

Ms. Chairman, my motion was to deny the text amendment as proposed and then amend it to exclude, deny data centers in I1, I2, and RDD. And I followed up with a comment that that would then allow us the opportunity to explore the creation of a new zoning classification specifically for data centers, which would then require each developer to request a rezoning specific to the property that they are looking at placing a data center to make, to your point, the right site for the right purpose. Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Miller. Okay. All right. We have clearly heard that. We do have a second by Mr. Allison. Mr. Manager, please.

I think the attorney has a procedural question.

Thank you.

i need to understand what you're actually asking to do to this ordinance are you saying that you want to keep these rules but also say that the that that they will not go in i1 i2 and rdd and then later on we will create this other ordinance because if if that is the case then we need to to maybe bifurcate those things and vote on two different things or perhaps just vote on the striking of i1 i2 and rdd

and then just know that that's an idea that we have for later i i just i i want to be very clear in my opinion it's very simple it is to not accept is to deny the text amendment as presented and to simply amend it so that in i1 and i2 and rdd it shows that they are excluded do you mean the text amendment that we're that's what we're voting on now right yeah but i think i think i'm

But we would be amending the entire zoning ordinance and not just the, so the text amendment is, go ahead. Yeah.

Maybe I can ask the question a different way. Are you asking to deny the amendment as proposed?

Yes, I am.

Okay. So whether I1 and RDD and I2 are in there won't matter because you're wanting to deny the entire amendment, correct? Yes, sir.

I'm wanting to deny the text amendment as presented to us, which allows them with conditional uses. Yes.

Right. But again, so the entire amendment is what your motion is, correct? Yes, it is. Okay.

So we're not amending the amendment.

Yeah. And then phase two of that would then to also then further request that the text now be revised to reflect a simple exclusion of data centers in I-1, I-2, and RDD.

So why are we amending it?

That's two different issues.

Yeah, I think we've got too many things going on.

Would it be simpler to amend the current ordinance to exclude RDD I-1 and I-2? Because I think I understand what you're saying. You're saying if we deny it, if we deny it on the first piece, the second piece is not necessary because everything is dead.

Are we amending it or are we denying it wholesale?

If we deny it. You simply have left a loophole in there that is now allowed by default from what I keep hearing that we have this. Somebody could come in, developer could come in today and get a permit and build a data center. So just denying the text amendment is not in itself enough.

But the only thing that's on the table right now is the text amendment.

Well, I'm voting to deny it and to request that it be amended to exclude it. So maybe it's a two-vote.

So two motions? I have two motions. Do we need to separate?

I think we either need to amend it or deny it.

But the second one hasn't been. I'm sorry, what? Right. Yeah, we're trying to put our heads together on the fly here. Okay. I'm thinking, clearly, obviously, you can deny the amendment as presented. That's the easy part.

Okay.

The trickier part is, can you then amend the other ordinance that's not necessarily been through first, second reading in the public hearing? It's almost like you have two different issues that you're trying to deal with. So I think if you want to clearly deny the amendment as presented, I think that definitely can be done tonight. That's no problem. But if you then want to address the loophole that you brought up, As I sit here without again without kind of on the fly, I think you're gonna need to do another ordinance to deal with that. Is that you agree with that?

Right. But then there's also the possibility of. The moratorium passing later, which would functionally do what you're asking to do.

But if it doesn't pass, you still have an open area with RDD and I-1. RDD would allow them to come in. So you tell me how I need to phrase this to simply say that proposed amending the text amendment to simply state that data centers are excluded in I-1, I-2, and RDD. I think that that's an okay motion.

I was going to say, Mr. Chairman, would it make it simpler if we... Um, since some of the members of the audience have already said this, would it make it simpler and less confusing and it would take maybe some of miss Miller's, um. Concern away if we just. If you as chairman push this to after we vote on the moratorium, because the moratorium passes. It'll make this all moot.

That's true.

Madam Attorney?

I think that if you wanted to pause consideration of this and move into public hearing and consider the temporary moratorium first, that you could do that. That is your choice to make.

Counsel, what's your pleasure? Is that what you'd like?

Let me clarify. And so this would be then voted on after that vote was taken?

You could vote on it. You could table it. You could you could do whatever you wanted to with it.

So my concern there is that if it third and final reading, it doesn't pass, then we're left third and final reading. This is second on the moratorium.

Are you talking about the moratorium that we were saying now?

Go ahead and vote on that. This is second. Right. Okay. So I'm just trying to get all the options on the table here so that I understand. and the audience understands what's before us because I'm trying to do what I think is right and what the people are wanting us to do. So help me phrase that.

So you could go ahead and take your public hearing and vote on the moratorium. You could do any number of things to what you're doing right now, including tabling it or considering it later in the meeting. So it will still, it could either be voted on up or down tonight. Or it could be tabled until next time, depending on what happens with the moratorium. That could be something that you do. You hold it in your sort of hold it in your back pocket and wait and see what happens with the temporary moratorium on 3rd reading. Assuming it passes tonight.

Okay. So my suggestion would be then to make a motion to amend the proposed text amendment to simply exclude data centers from I-1, I-2, and RDD.

All right, so you want to change your motion? Is that what I'm hearing?

If I'm hearing that it's two separate motions and that one simple motion to amend it or change it to exclude or deny data centers and all three of those classifications, then that is the end result that I'm looking for this evening. And I would like to have a vote on that.

You're amending your motion? Yes. So that's your motion?

Yeah, that's mine.

I'll second that. So you're seconding a change? Mr. Allison has already seconded. She restated her motion. Okay. All right. Then we have a motion by Ms. Miller and a second by Mr. Pruitt. Does everyone understand what that motion is? Okay. I'm afraid I'll have to let Ms. Miller say it because go ahead, Kathy.

I'm going to have the county attorney restate it. My motion is to amend the proposed text amendment to simply exclude slash deny data centers from I-1, I-2, and RDD.

Just to be clear, if that passes, we have to approve

basically the text amendment has amended as amended that's correct so so you vote on the amendment and then you've like once that is voted up or down assuming it is voted and it passes then you then have to vote again on this ordinance i think what's and and i'd like your motion amended i like your motion kathy i'm just

But I'm hearing some confusion from the audience because they said they didn't want us to pass the text amendment. If we do this, we're getting ready to pass the text amendment with excluding RDD, I-1, and I-2.

I believe that's the end result, that the audience is wanting regardless of the legalese around it, yes.

Well, as long as you know that we've got to pass it to make it happen.

I'll also say that if you're saying that this has to go back through the Planning Commission and back through three hearings again, I would say that the changes that were proposed to us today would be considered substantive enough that they would also be required to go back through the process for approval. No. Because you literally have... That's not what we're saying. I'm just saying. We're having comment here on what would allow and what not allow. So, if you're saying to me that it has to go back through the process, or when does it have to have another approval?

We're not saying that. Okay. Thank you.

All right what I believe I am clear on is we have a motion in a 2nd for miss Miller's amendment. We will vote up or down to approve that amendment. If that amendment is approved, then we will vote her changes as ordinance, correct?

Yes.

Okay, council. No, sir, you cannot.

That's later in the agenda, sir.

Please sit down.

I think we ought to move it up. Move it up.

Mr. Chairman, I really think, and I don't want to step on anybody's toes, but I really think we ought to move the moratorium vote up before this one. That would cut down a lot of confusion.

Yeah, I'm fine with that, and the county attorney's fine with that. Right, Ms. Penny?

Yes.

Okay, that's fine. I think it would just cut down a lot of confusion. That's fine. I think the moratorium's going to pass. I'm fine with doing that. So if we want to move in that direction, let's move in that direction.

Got to open up public hearings.

So, do we want to... So we will table 2026-19 set aside for the moment. Correct? Madam Attorney?

I think that's a fine way to put it.

And we will move.

Do you want to finish those other two items? No, I want to go straight to it now. All right. Your call, Mr. Chairman.

Excuse me. I've got to find it now.

I'll make a motion to enter into public hearing, Mr. Chairman.

Second.

Yes, motion and 2nd, enter into public hearing, um, all in favor. That's unanimous. Got to get to it. Sorry. Ordinance 202625, imposing a temporary moratorium on the approval of data centers and related infrastructure within Greenwood County for a period of one year, providing findings and providing for an effective date. That's presented by Councilman Mark Allison, Councilwoman Kathy Miller, and Vice Chairman Dane Pruitt. This is second reading, this is public hearing. Again, I'm going to emphasize, if you spoke during public comment, don't come forward to speak again, please. I will ask now, is there anyone in the audience that cares to speak in favor of this? If so, please come forward, state your name and address. Yes, sir. Yes, sir.

I do want to speak. This is Gary Gunderson. and 504 Rabbit Run Road 96. And I just wanted to, I didn't have an opportunity to speak earlier, but I wanted to speak in favor of all the good work that the County Council has been doing here. And I thought what I observed, all the work that was going into thinking about how to make a good data center happen, What protections need to be in place and how we can meet the needs of the citizens and we go with regard to being sure that we have something that's workable for the for the county at the same time. I think I would be delighted to get a data center in this county. I think it would be extremely beneficial. Uh, I, and I, like others, I'd be happy to have been the proper had I had some land in the county. I'd love to sell some of that land to a data center and and make it make it make it be part of. Of of of the beginning of a technological revolution in Greenwood, the technology that can come from the staff and the talents and the people that run data centers and all that technology. All those are smart, good people. It's all helpful. I think our chairman here has commented dramatically about how much money it's going to bring to the county. It'll solve all of your problems. And I don't think, I think a lot of the problems associated with it is just not right. I really don't think that the risks attendant to these data centers are anywhere near like some of you think it is and some of you are afraid of. Well, I just, you know, my whole life I've been part of the silent majority that gets railroaded by the demonstrators. So I'm one of the old silent majority that would, I stand, I will be really upset in my humble opinion if you put a moratorium in effect before you move forward with getting done all the work these guys have done, get a data center in town.

Thank you, Mr. Gunderson. I'm going to remind the audience that as you come forward, my ask was if you were speaking in favor of the moratorium, Mr. Gunderson obviously speaking in opposition. If you're speaking in favor of the moratorium, please come forward.

He was in favor. He was in favor, Mr. Chairman.

He was in favor.

No.

I was not in favor. No, he was not.

My bad. No, he's opposed to it.

I am in favor of what they're proposing.

Thank you, Mr. Gunnarsson. Okay, let's get corrected now. All right, sir. Name and address for the record, please.

My name is William Leslie. Address is 108 Gunnery Court West 96. And I've spoken to this group before, and I would just ask that you listen to your constituents and to the. I'm not, I apologize. I don't know your name. I'm looking right at you, but you spoke you spoke about how you. Have grown up in Greenwood County, and you want what's right for this county and I don't doubt that at all. but your office is to listen to the people of greenwood county not what you really think but what the people of greenwood county put you there for and that gentleman there was the first person i've heard speak in three months for a data center and i also live in 96. And at the last County Council meeting, there was a gentleman from Loudoun County, Virginia, that has multiple data centers. There is nobody in Loudoun County that is excited about the money that's coming in. They have all kinds of health issues. They have all kinds of power issues. They have all kinds of water and sanitation issues. Spartanburg County, the exact same thing. So I hear you and I honestly, sincerely believe that you mean well, but the rest of the people in this county that have spoken at least and shown up at your meetings do not want this here. And your job as our representatives is to vote according to our wishes. So I would ask that you do that. Thank you.

Well, Councilwoman you're referring to is Councilwoman Johanna Bishop. She asked that I tell you her name. Thank you. Yes, ma'am name and record please name and address for the record please.

Me? Oh, sorry. Either one of you. Kelly Eberhard, 312 Compass Point. I think I timed it at three minutes and four seconds, if you can allow me the four seconds.

I'm sure I will. Thank you.

A council is elected to protect us and do unbiased due diligence. Its role is to ensure our safety and well-being above all. You are trusted to make measured decisions based on the reality that data centers are going up so fast that it is not left a lot of time and room for proper evaluation on many levels mr pruitt mr allison and ms miller astutely came to the conclusion that there is still far more to be learned to commit ourselves to something that may cause more harm than benefit they are erring on the side of caution to protect us and that is their job on june 30th mr russian himself stated studies have been inconsistent His efforts to do the research and try to strengthen the amendment are certainly appreciated. However, if they are inconsistent, why are we not taking our time to investigate for ourselves, wait for additional consistent data? The area of health impact study is just getting started. Even the little being studied points to significant concerns. What is also concerning is that if this body was elected to protect us, how could the First Amendment have even been proposed? Was it hubris or naivete to somehow believe that we couldn't possibly be one of the towns that gets duped by large corporations? We couldn't be another community to let them in the door and have the rug pulled out from under us? Or was it something less transparent? It should have been and should continue to be the job of this body to call and knock on the door of as many data center communities who will share their successes and failures as possible over the next 12 months. From what I understand, Everett, Massachusetts has done a great job in getting their restrictions and protections. Someone should be sitting up in Spartanburg asking every conceivable question to ascertain what went wrong. Mr. Rushin did tell us that they did not have items in place like our amendment to begin with. Let's be finding out what they were promised, how and why changes in the plan occurred. Was it changes in technology available that caused increases in utility requirements? What legal maneuvers did the data centers use to change the game? How are they ensuring the jobs promised are long-term jobs delivered? Because this kind of scenario is happening in too many communities across the country. Article after article discusses the AI bubble that will burst after this flurry of building is over. Our own amendment states, data centers are recognized as distinct use that warrant special consideration due to rapid advancement and evolution of technology limiting their duration. We seem to be moving at an unnecessary speed to bring in corporations for which we are already planning for their obsolescence. We are not even waiting for the state to make its own regulations. Are we trading short-term profit for long-term liability? If that is the road we choose to take, why in the world are we at least not slowing down to minimize the long-term health, safety, and financial costs to this community? The only logical conclusion is that somebody has more to gain than we do. We respectfully ask a roll call vote on this matter, and I just wanted to point out that this county has been dealing with the smell from a dog food plant. Damage to our issues.

Ma'am, thank you. We don't need to talk about the dog food plant. Thank you.

I'm just saying that there are ongoing considerations to deal with as well as this. Thank you.

Step forward to that mic, please.

Colleen Duffy, 110 Patriot Point Court 96. I didn't plan on coming up and speaking here. I just want to get a little clarification. I appreciate all the work that you put in in adding some revisions to the text amendment that you initially had. I see that a lot more things are in there. You had the study session last week. You took more information. from that session and put it in there. Even though Greenwood County seems to be full of a diverse group of people with many talents and professional skills, I don't think that we have covered everything in our meetings here that need to go into the restrictions for conditional use for a data center. And so I'm for the moratorium to give us time to do what you have set out to do in the description of the moratorium to gather information from other communities that are like ours to see the environmental impacts, the health impacts, the impacts on the community, good and bad. I tend to think they're mostly bad. I appreciate what Councilperson Miller is, I think, attempting to do, but I think some of the confusion is that Um, if you're saying that we want to deny the text amendment as it is, but amend it to not allow in light industrial one and two, or that. Basically, is approving a data center to come in with no restrictions. Like, all the things we've been talking about into heavy industrial, because we haven't even looked really in heavy industrial. And if it goes into heavy industrial, we still need all these things, all these protections for the water for the electric and everything. So I understand what you're. trying to do to make sure we're covered. But I think that that still leaves a gap for something to sneak in because we just passed a text amendment to say, you can't put it in all these places, but you can put it in this one place and then there's no restrictions. So if it's possible, if we could pass the moratorium second and third reading tonight, that would be good because everyone needs to understand this is only the second reading of the moratorium. So if this could be the final reading of the moratorium, then I would hope that whatever amendment comes will be a year from now when we have all the information to know everything we need to put in there. Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Dutcher.

You there? Got it. Hi, thank you all for having me. I'm Danny Lee Ford II. I just ran for Commissioner of Agriculture for the state of South Carolina. My address is 833 Bishop Branch Road, and I am from Central South Carolina. I'm not from Greenwood. I have several of your constituents reach out to me and ask me to be here and speak on their behalf. I do respect what you're saying, Mr. Lane. I just had my name drug through the mud for two weeks straight by big money. A lot of fun, isn't it? Not around the town, on TV, on radio. Every time I put my family in the car, I had to listen to negative impacts of me and what I have done, when all I've done is traveled this state and tried to represent farmers and spent a grand total of $200,000 to do so. What we are not thinking about here right now and what I have not heard one person talk about is our food, our food security. The actual data centers are known for reduction in weight, reproduction loss. We have taken the bait every time that someone has come to South Carolina and asked us to be first. We did it with the hemp. Cost us a ton of money, cost a ton of money with Scout, and cost us a ton of money with the nuclear project. So I'm here to ask you to wait, to see, To learn, because from what I've seen tonight, there is no way that anybody in this room is educated enough on the matter to make this decision for future generations. I don't see very many farmers on the board and I don't see very many people in the audience with dirt under their fingernails. And that leads me to believe that you don't know that 68% of our food comes from another country. We're only 10% of sustainable in the state of South Carolina. This will make it harder for our producers who happen to be an average age of 67 years old in this state. And at 35 and under, 9% of our industry. We are pushing our farmers out. We are not looking after them. and I'll be the first one to tell you, you can't eat data.

That's why I voted for that guy, Mr. Chairman.

One of you.

My name is Samantha Campbell, and I live at 15 East Main Street where Shoals. And because of that, I know the tragedy that follows factories, mills and data centers. And I am originally from Virginia, and I can tell you the devastation data centers have had in my home. Now that I live here, I have fallen in love with the beautiful rolling hills as I drive around as a home health nurse to care for the citizens of this county. It is devastating to watch as more industrial parks open and then drive around and see the tombstones that are left over factories and mills that are still standing empty where people lost their jobs and how to go find work elsewhere and leave towns as guests. I think it would be very important for all of you, since you have all passed school and we're all adults here, to understand the word no. And what everyone here wants is to not pay for a data center's electricity or their water usage or have to tell their kids they cannot have water or have the AC on today because we have to let the data center have it so someone can have our information. Is everyone in agreeance with that? Thank you for your time. I hope you make the right decision today.

Thank you, Ms. Cowan. Ma'am.

I'm going to try and speak into the microphone. My name is Jessica Ullery. I live at 232 Cabin Road. I do just want to start by pointing out I live a half mile off of a main road. It's just our road with my neighbors. That's over 2,000 feet away from a main road. and in the morning, in the afternoon, and at night, I hear the construction work that's being done at the solar farm at Five Points. I hear the cars that go by with their loud booming music. I hear the motorcycles that go by with their loud engines. So to say a thousand foot buffer for data centers is truly not enough because I'm 2,000 feet away and just the little everyday noises I'm hearing in my house. Doan Nguyen- Aside from that, I would like to ask that y'all do the moratorium understand will lose potential money potential business do we really want those businesses to come in here if they can't respect. that we want to do better things for our community and not give up land for these projects that cannot return the land back to us. Once it is done, it is depleted. It will be decades before we can have that land back, before we can use anything around it, and before it can heal itself from the damage that was done. I greatly appreciate what y'all do. I'm sorry y'all have to take the abuse for this. Somebody's got to do it. It's a thankless job, but I do thank y'all. Please be considerate. to the time, if you take the time to take into all the information, all the environmental impacts that it will cause, because they are there. And we are learning them every day, more and more, the bad things that are coming. When the good things start coming through, we'll change our tune, but it's just bad right now. So if you could put a pause on it. I know I and my neighbors and all of these people would greatly appreciate a moratorium for at least a year to see what else comes with it. Thank you so much.

Thank you, ma'am. Ms. Griffin.

I'm Jean Griffin. I live at 1223 Highway 246 North in Greenwood, and I am a native South Carolinian. I live in Greenwood because it's the best place I know of in South Carolina to live. And it is because it's a lot of rural country. And the people who have chosen to live here from other parts of the country, many, many of them have spoken tonight in favor, I mean, in opposition to having a data center. And my guess is that they chose Greenwood for some of the same reasons that I did. I appreciate them stepping up as well as the natives who have stepped up. And I appreciate what y'all do too, but at least a year moratorium, if not three to five years is what I'm in favor of. Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. King.

Good evening. Ellen Krebs, 528 Wilson Street, Greenwood. I attended last week's meeting and spent four hours at the public library with, I'm sorry, that gentleman. who was answering questions for us very diligently and very respectfully. But every single question that was directed to him was raising questions, concerns, and opposition to the language that is currently proposed in the zoning ordinance as being totally ineffective in protecting the health and environmental issues that data centers bring. And in response to that four-hour session, we were told tonight two minor changes were made to the language of the ordinance. What that leads me to believe is that we are not being heard at all. And I strongly suspect that the limited changes that were made to the ordinance was because if more substantial changes were made, it would have to go through the three reading hearing process all over again. because of that and because of what i've witnessed even with the the proposal by ms miller for amendments to be made to the proposed ordinance that this is not ready for a vote that the only reasonable option for the committee to make tonight is to approve the moratorium. Moratorium is necessary to make sure when an ordinance is passed it protects Greenwood and Greenwood residents and we don't have that protection right now. We don't feel we have that protection right now. and where there is a lack of public faith and a lack of public backing from the residents of a community, a business is subject to fail because you need the backing of the people behind it. Thank you.

Thank you, Mayor.

John Holloway, 313 Johns Creek Road. So I'd like to thank the council for being here tonight, to be in this forum that's so part of a due process. I'm a lifelong resident of Greenwood and I've spent the last 30 years photographing South Carolina, creating projects with incredible corporations that have a strong environmental record. I really hope you will consider this moratorium tonight. A year is not a long time to ask to do it right. And there's a difference between doing it right and doing it wrong. South Carolina has 32,000 square miles. Greenwood is approximately 1,100 square miles. And we have to do what's best for everybody. And I think from what you've heard tonight, there's not another decision for me. So please consider the moratorium for a year and Thank you for allowing us to be here tonight.

Thank you, John.

Good evening. My name is Jessica Smith. I live at 1580 Old Abbeville Highway. I have been following what's been going on with the data centers and this is the first time I have been to one of the meetings. They tend to run very long. Um, but from what the gentleman explained, um, a little bit ago about the, uh, amendments that were made, he said that language, um, that was used to draft this was based on assumptions and that's why the wording was not more clear. And I can't think of a single legal document where we would use assumptions. Um, and so anything that is being drafted should be. way more clear. To do so is just complete, to do anything less would be completely negligent. I would also say that a lot of the information that has been proposed all along has been about this being such an emergency. And with this being considered an emergency, I think that we should instead of waiting to vote on the moratorium, I think that we should make that something that is proposed to be voted on immediately tonight, just like Spartanburg County did. Instead of waiting, it seems completely backwards to vote on something and then wait and see if the moratorium is going to pass. As it's been mentioned that we're putting the cart before the horse. And also, I would like to say that even you yourself said that a lot can happen in a year, and I agree with that. We can gain a whole lot of information in a year, which the moratorium will allow. Whether we believe in the facts or not, the truth is truth regardless of what we believe, and there is a lot of information that supports the effects that will happen with a data center coming to our community. I'm not okay with us passing the amendment the way that it is written and then hoping that the council will then vote to exclude RDD and L1 and L2. I don't think that that is her intention with that proposal, which is why there's so much confusion. We can't pass an amendment and then vote to hopefully pass the restrictions on the zoning when the intent is basically not to have the data centers here at all. So those are my concerns. I do think that we need to vote for the moratorium tonight and not let this continue to be delayed. You know what everybody wants. Thank you.

Thank you, ma'am. i'm ann smith i live at driftwood drive in greenwood and i was at the meeting last week too and that was a lot of time to spend for just a couple of little things changes but there's so many things that haven't been addressed we go over the main items over and over a lot of times things that are dangerous are things we can't see we don't hear there's a difference in sound with with decibels There's also hurts, the low hurts frequency causes health issues. It causes thickening of the arteries and heart valves, tinnitus, anxiety that travels through. You can't, it goes through walls, through, it's very, very hard to block it. And it goes for miles and miles. And that's one thing that has really been affecting people around data centers. no one's addressing that so there are a lot of health issues that we really don't even know about yet so if we could have a moratorium i think it would give us a little more time to find find out the other things we need to be investigating so miss smith thank you pardon me i missed your first name please ann thank you ma'am thank you

Hi, my name is Mari Burton, 703 Buck Level Road. I wanted to urge you all to pass the moratorium. There are multiple negatives to having an AI data center or even opening ourselves up to be on the market for one. Some of those were addressed, some of them were not, so I just wanted to bring awareness to them really quickly. First and foremost, The e-waste that will come from them is something that I do not believe that our county would be able to prepare for, as well as the amount of water that it would take to power these. Small data centers can range anywhere from 1.5 million with larger ones being 50 million. That is something that we cannot account for. E-waste, because it is an ever-evolving system and because newer and better Tech is coming out every day to every week to every month. Where will this waste go? Our overfilled landfill, our backyard, our lake, counties over on our clean streets, where will this waste go? People have talked about that we would have significant job growth and tax revenue income, but the truth is that's not true. It is a known fact that data centers create far fewer jobs than other industries. Most of the roles are highly specialized and temporary. We can look at other areas with AI data centers and see the strains that these centers are putting on local grids, which in return is creating higher electricity bills. And also these companies often negotiate for tax breaks that leave our schools, roads and emergency services underfunded. I bring that up because I know that it was talked about earlier, wanting to put all these safety measures in and us just simply not having the budget, having an AI data center would not help this cause. Lastly, I wanted to talk about the noise and the electromagnetic pollution from data centers, which have been linked to sleep disturbances, headaches, increased stress for nearby residents, as well as vulnerable communities such as the elderly children and people like me who are disabled with pre-existing conditions would bear the brunt of the impacts of these data centers. By voting in favor of this data center, or at least putting us on the market for one, you were telling Greenwood County that you put profit over the people that you were voted in to serve. Our county is known for its natural beauty, its small town charm, and our quality of life. Do we want to become a hub for industrial giants at the cost of what makes us special? Instead, I vote that we choose sustainability, we choose integrity, and we choose a future that we can be proud of, which can be done with this moratorium. Thank you and solidarity forever.

Thank you, ma'am.

Hi, my name is Robin Witt, 102 Sherwood Lane here in Greenwood. To Kathy Miller's motion earlier, to me what makes sense is to, an attorney earlier said, is we could, we have, y'all have the power tonight to put a pending ordinance doctrine that would go into effect tonight, and that would give you one year to review it. You can do whatever you, you know, whatever the community allows, but that, That bypasses the second, third reading and it is effective tonight. And it seems that, I mean, I'm not an attorney, but that is what was explained earlier in one of the comments. And to me, that would give everyone a chance to breathe. I feel like a lot of us think that we are coming into a room that a four to three vote was already determined. And that is not fair to this community. But if you really want to say you want to do what's best for this community, I would implore you to consider a pending ordinance doctrine to put the moratorium in place immediately effective now. Thank you.

Thank you, ma'am. Yes, ma'am.

My name is Allison Sikora, and I'm at 820 East Grumling Road in Hodges. I don't know a lot about data centers. I bet most people here don't know a whole lot about data centers. You guys aren't going to be experts on data centers. What I do know is that I raise horses. Down the street from me, they raise horses. Down the street from them, they raise cattle. All of that is less than a mile from Hodges, which I believe is I-1 where you're talking about putting this data center. My horses are bred, their estrus, just like most farm animals, goes by the light. And if you have all that light there, how am I going to be able to breed my horses? How are they going to know when they should take a break in estrus so that I can breed them at the proper time? How is that sound going to affect them? It's not a guarantee that I'm even going to get a foal. Last year I bred four mares. I only got one foal. It's very, very delicate. So to have that so close to me where my family goes and we go out and when I'm out there at night, I see the stars and it's quiet. That's where I go for my peace. Why would you put this data center right half a mile from us and destroy that? Because I understand that when somebody comes and big business flashes $30, $40 million at you, that's probably very tempting. But I don't think anybody here wants that. And nobody here is interested in that. If we were, we'd all live in New York City. But we don't. I'd ask you to please pass this moratorium.

Yes, ma'am.

Yes, my name is Caroline Jenkins and I live at 808 Chinquapin Road. I am for the moratorium. My question, I know you don't like questions, but this is a second reading. Will that make it immediate? If you all pass the moratorium, As soon as we vote, as soon as you all vote.

No, ma'am. This is second reading public hearing. There'll be a third and final hearing. Everything, every ordinance requires three readings.

That's what I thought. So if it requires a third reading, when would that reading be?

Two weeks from tonight.

So for two weeks, we're left vulnerable?

No, ma'am. The attorney pointed out earlier that with the pending ordinance document, it would still be protected.

The moratorium will be protected? Yes, ma'am. Awesome. That's great. Let's everybody give everybody a hand for being here tonight. ma'am speak to council please speak to council please well thank you all for being here tonight and i would like to tell you all to thank all these people for being here today we do thank them for being here my name is sam rowland i live at 2261 montague avenue extension and they certainly did not save the best for last

I was born in 73 here in Greenwood, and I have never been to a council meeting. I moved away for 23 years and went to a lot of council meetings where I lived. I followed this issue very closely. One of the people told me I should be for it because I get on Facebook. It seems like every time I get on Facebook, I get in trouble at work and on Facebook. Several issues, the vibration, the low frequency vibration is a terrible thing. I did not see it addressed in the slides, but that is something that we have used as a weapon for years around the world that has not been spoken of. And it's a tremendous issue for people who live near them. Just walking from the back to here is 60 feet. The smallest data center, which you said we weren't gonna go to the ultra, the smallest one is 100 foot setback. It's 60 feet back there to that deputy back there. So that's an issue, the noise. And also the light dome above it. And we spoke of the 3,000 Kelvin. So these are about 5,000 Kelvin here. The little lamps on the side or the reading lamp or a nice lamp beside your bed's at 3,000 Kelvin. But if you look at all the data centers, they're all 6 and 5,000 Kelvin. So I don't really believe that. We talked about the water usage up to 5 million gallons a day. Just a quick Google search using a data center somewhere. Greenwood County uses 9 to 10 million gallons of water a day. And you're talking about a half that for just one data center somewhere. That's a big deal. As I spoke about the buffers, they're just not enough. We can name subdivision after subdivision in Greenwood that had buffers put up. The developers came in and cut banks right against the property, put small trees up. The buffers are not there, but they're already not enforced and there are several examples of those. If anybody would want them after this, I'll be glad to tell you. Why would you want them when so many people who you all represent are against it openly? People who don't want a spotlight. I don't want a spotlight, I promise you. I'm gonna catch a lot of flack for this at work. But it's a big topic and if you shouldn't do something, if you're a preacher or your wife, if you're embarrassed to tell them you're doing something, you probably shouldn't do it. And if you have to do it in the dark undercover, you probably shouldn't do it. I didn't always live by that, but it's the truth. Everybody in here knows that. You all should know that. And I think it's a terrible thing when you play people's emotions. And I don't even know you, Mr. Lane, but you chose the topics, I know that's my bell, I heard it somewhere, You chose the topics that play on people's emotion. When you claimed that Stephanie Dorn, who's like the number one comptroller in South Carolina, comes to you, you said if a data center brings 30 million here, we're going to get the schools we need. We're going to get the fire protection. Dennis Kelly's going to get all the money he needs for the sheriff's department. You are playing on people's emotions. Nothing brings people to say we need to spend more money than schools for the kids and for fire protection for their neighbor and somebody to come when 911 gets called. That to me, you played that like a true politician, not someone who represents the constituents who showed up. This place is never full. I've been to dance recital after dance recital here. Didn't have this many people in it growing up. I just want you to know that's more of a car salesman tactic than it is someone who represents people. And I think that's terrible because you did that on purpose. I do appreciate everything you all do. It's hard to face the public. It's hard to be scrutinized all the time. I ran for county commissioner where I lived before because I've valued the community and what it means to be on that board. And I think all these people are happier there. But we have a big voice and all these people are saying no.

Thank you.

I appreciate that.

Is there anyone else in the audience who cares to speak in support of the moratorium? Is there anyone then in the audience who cares to speak against the moratorium? Okay, seeing none, I'll ask for a motion to close the public hearing. I have a motion by Ms. Griffin, second by Mr. Templeton. All in favor? Public hearing is closed. Now, Madam Attorney, We're going to vote, as we said, we're going to vote this now, correct? And then we will move back. That was what our intention was. So, council?

Mr. Chairman, I'll offer you a motion to approve the 12-month moratorium written by Ms. Miller, Mr. Allison, and myself.

Thank you. I have a motion by Mr. Pruitt.

I'll second it.

I have a second by Ms. Miller.

before we vote any comments or questions further on this topic yes I'd like to just verify the pending ordinance doctrine that was discussed madam attorney is that the direction that we would be moving in if approved on second reading tonight right so I think that if you pass it tonight if you pass this moratorium tonight

It does work to invoke the pending ordinance doctrine. What happens at third reading is a different story, but for these two weeks, it is apparent to anybody coming to do business in Greenwood County what you're probably going to do, what you might do. For the next two weeks, even though it's not fully gone through third reading and we have to do three readings of ordinances in counties, regular ordinances um the pending and the pending ordinance doctrine would be invoked and i don't think somebody could come in and make application for a data center thank you mr chairman i'd like to um offer comment and some clarification um to somebody the audience that said that um

it wouldn't include heavy industrial i1 is light industrial i2 is heavy industrial so we have three prone areas right now in the existing zoning that would allow those to come in just for clarification um i want to also remind you what we were just talking about approval of this moratorium at second reading does not guarantee that it will be passed in third and final reading So what I'm simply trying to do is put some precautions in place that if that fails at third and final reading, that you would have a fallback plan to say that we are trying to go ahead and exclude data centers from those other three zoning classifications. That is my intent, and I want you to understand that. Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Miller. Mr. Allison.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Real quick, one point I would like to make, too. By doing this moratorium, it was said earlier that This could possibly shine a negative light on all industries that we are not industry friendly. But if we do a moratorium just on data centers, then any other industry that had any interest in our county would. Would still have the same privileges that they have. Prior to this, so I don't see how.

this would have any negative impact on any other industries other than the data center thank you thank you we've had a request several times tonight for a roll call vote i'm going to ask mr chairman hang on i'm sorry that's all right um

I did want to make some comments.

Certainly.

I want to thank everybody who called or emailed me on this issue, especially those of you who are civil, which is how it should be. For those what I'll call keyboard warriors who hid behind fake names or even used their real names and chose to make threats of bodily harm to me and other members of this body, those threats have been turned over to the Sheriff's Department. I hope they find you and I hope they I hope they prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law. None of us up here, none of us up here should ever have to fear for our lives or our families when we're trying to serve the community that we love. So thank you all, that was super simple. Now, I said from the get-go I wouldn't support a 24-month moratorium. I am gonna support the 12. I will say that I personally think done correctly and put in the right spot, the data center, could be a good partner for our community, our schools, and our citizens. Obviously, that's not what y'all think, and that's okay. The jobs, while few, are high paying. The tax revenue is tremendous, and it could do a lot of the things that Mr. Lane said, schools, roads, law enforcement, without putting undue stress on our taxpayers. And a lot of what has been shared has been outdated information, to be honest with you. I visited one last week that's family owned, South Carolina natives, Been in business for 19 years, the community doesn't even know they're there. That's the kind of partner I would love to see us one day have in Greenwood County, powered by natural gas, closed-loop water system, server racks in concrete and reboard-enforced rooms with ceiling noise. But besides all that, those are the type of partners we're gonna need going forward, but we're gonna lose them with the passage of the moratorium. I asked them straight up in the meeting, what happens if council passes a moratorium? And the quote was, It would cause a lot of uncertainty with us. We would look at another place. We'll take Greenwood County off the list. And it would signal to us that Greenwood County is closed for business. This is the most difficult decision I've had to make on council, and I've been here a while. But I have heard you, and I have listened, And I hope this goes down as the best decision I've ever made. But my gut tells me it could be the worst time will tell. Thank you, Mr.

Thank you. Any other comments or questions before we vote?

Mr. Chairman, I just like to say, again, also, I do appreciate everyone reaching out to me. Again, some of the comments, some of the emails and everything were a little bit too much because if you appreciate us on one end, you can't dislike us so much that if our thought process is totally different from yours, that's why you put us here because we're able to think for ourselves, even though you are the ones who voted to put us where we are. But when we came, we had a heart to serve and that does not change. every time something comes up that we need to vote for or against So whenever you're speaking to us or about us, just remember that we're still human. We still have our own mind, even though we are working for you all. And I did not get all of the calls and everything that some of the other people got from, you know, 96 and other districts. I didn't get that many from my district, but I do. I did read everything that was sent to me. And I listened to the voicemails because with everything that's going on now, we're not answering our phone for every call that comes through. But I did listen to the emails. And like I said, regardless of whatever we decide today, you still should respect us for wanting what's best for Greenwood County, because that's our job to do what's best for Greenwood County and no special individual, no special anything. but we're doing what's best for Greenwood County. And again, I just say thank you for all that you have said tonight and still all that we will continue to do for this county is putting Greenwood County first. That's in.

Thank you, Ms. Griffin. Any other comments before we vote? Call it, Mr. Chairman. Okay. So we'll call the question. I want to make sure that we understand how we're voting. The motion before us is to approve a one-year moratorium. So roll call vote. District 1, Ms. Griffin, how do you vote?

I vote against.

You vote against. District 2, Mr. Allison, how do you vote?

I vote in favor.

District 3, Ms. Bishop, how do you vote?

I vote against.

District 4, Ms. Miller, how do you vote?

I vote in favor of the moratorium.

District 5, Mr. Pruitt, how do you vote? In favor. District 6? In favor. Mr. Templeton, in favor, and District 7 votes against. So, if my count is correct, that is a 4-3 approval of the 12-month moratorium. Okay. All right. Let's go back in order of our agenda now. If I can figure out where we are.

Item B, old business. Yes, item B of old business.

Thank you.

I'm sorry, we didn't do A. It's item A, old business.

My bad. I'm sorry, say that again. It's item A, old business, because we pushed that back to do more.

It is item A. You're correct.

All right, now, I'm going to need some assistance now again, Ms. Miller, on how you want this motion to be read into the record.

She's already made the motion. She's already made the motion and we have a second.

We have a motion and we have a second by Mr. Pruitt on your final delivery. Is that correct?

That's correct.

That's correct.

Does everyone remember now what we are voting on? I think we should restate it, Mr. Chairman.

I think it should be restated. Ms. Miller, please.

Oh, y'all are trying me tonight. That's okay. A motion to amend the text amendment as presented to exclude and deny data centers in I-1, I-2, heavy industrial, and RDD.

Thank you, ma'am. And I think a show of hands will be sufficient. A vote to approve Ms. Miller's Motion. Show of hands to approve Ms. Miller's motion. Which, just to be clear, passes this reading with those additions.

Correct. Okay, so I'm sure the opposite is clear.

No, no. The motion is to amend. Yeah, the motion is to amend. And then you have to vote on the amendment.

Okay, that's understood.

So you have two votes to make, probably.

Thank you for that clarification.

We're going to vote twice. Okay, thank you. Right now we're voting to amend the ordinance as it was previously presented. So again, I will say... Raise your hand if you are in favor of Ms. Miller's proposal. That's four. And if you are opposed to that proposal. So that also passes for three. Thank you.

So now we have to vote

to activate that ordinance as amended. As amended. So I need a motion. I need a motion that we do such. Please.

I'm gonna make the motion to activate as amended.

Activate as amended. Motion by Ms. Miller, second by Mr. Allison. Show of hands if you are in favor of activating that motion. Show of hands if you're opposed. And that passes 4-3. All right. Whole business. Item B. Ordinance 202623 to amend the Greenwood County zoning map as and if amended so that three parcels of land totaling approximately 33.33 acres in Greenwood County at 803 Deadfall Road, 9797 Deadfall Road changes from R5 multiple family residential to AG1. Mr. Ryan Bland, our planning director, please speak.

Mr. Chairman, Uh, the subject properties, there are 3 of them again total 33.34 acres. Is it turned on? There we go.

There we go.

Sorry we are about, um.

We're on the South side of deadfall road about a quarter mile East of you Avenue. Going back again. There it goes. Uh, 3 parcels are again zone to our 5 right now, which is multi family residential as kind of a peninsula of that zoning there from the West. The future land use map has it as low density residential. The applicants wish to rezone that to agricultural to be more consistent with uses on the property and desired for future use of the property. The general nature of the area is rural to ex-urban, primarily residential, low density development along the stretch of Deadfall Road. And staff had recommended approval of this application based upon the amendment criteria. The Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval as well.

I'll have a motion to approve, Mr. Chairman.

Second.

I have a motion by Mr. Temple and a second by Mr. Pruitt. This is third and final reading. Council, any comments or discussion before we vote? Third and final reading. Council, what is your pleasure?

All in favor?

And that's unanimous and so ordered. Thank you. She's been waiting all night for that. Bless your heart. Item C. Ordinance 2026-24 to amend the Greenwood County zoning map as and if amended so that two parcels of land totaling approximately 104.06 acres in Greenwood County at 1641 Emerald Road and a portion of 6876533938 changes from RDD Rural Development District to I-1 Light Industrial. Please again, Mr. Bland.

Mr. Chairman, thank you. The 2 subject properties totaling 104 acres are generally about 8 tenths of a mile East of old Brickyard road and the rail crossing there along Emerald road on the North side. The issue we have here is that there is a split zoning on the property showing I1 on the North end of larger property and RDD on the South end. The purpose of this rezoning would be to clarify that, and the application is to zone the entire two parcels, I-1, the light industrial. The Future Land Use Map has this area designated as industrial, and the site is served by utilities and transportation infrastructure. And you can see here, the 1 developed a property that's a smaller property. The remainder of that section of Emerald road is primarily undeveloped and staff had recommended approval based upon the amendment criteria planning commission unanimously recommended approval as well. Offering a motion to approve second.

I have a motion by Mr. 2nd by Mr. template and 3rd and final reading all in favor. And that's unanimous and so thank you very much.

Then we just have 1 item, Mr. chairman.

Pardon? Yeah, we have, we won't have 1 item for public hearing. So I'll, I'll ask for a motion now that we move into public hearing 2nd, have a motion by Mr. template and the 2nd by Ms Griffin. So item well. Yeah, all in favor of moving into public hearing at this point and that's unanimous and so we're thank you. Item B consideration of a quick claim deeded easement for Greenwood Metro Division sewer line extension at the North Greenwood industrial park. Mr Bateman or economic development director please present.

Thank you Mr. Chairman members of council what is before you tonight and in your packets is a quick claim deeded easement from Greenwood County to Greenwood Metropolitan District. This is a 30 foot wide easement over the newly installed sewer main extension from the west side of highway 25 to the property to the county owned property at the southern entrance of your North Greenwood industrial park. This new sewer line comes underneath the highway, which is approved as part of the scope of the North Korean industrial park phase 2 site development and spec building project and brings the sewer across the highway onto the site. There is a manhole installed on the north end of the new entrance and that sewer is also stubbed out underneath that new entrance to your spec building. So that a future user going into that spec building, purchasing that property from the county. Could then obtain sewer service there, or on the graded pad in between the new entrance and where shows machine tool. That was the purpose of the sewer line extension. This grants this quickly and grants metro ability to maintain that sewer line that they will own. Also included in your packets is the contractors payment affidavit and release of lean for that same sewer line. This is a standard procedure for agreement metropolitan district to accept lines into their system. We would ask for your vote tonight to approve that quick claim deeded easement and to authorize manager and attorney to make final changes to put the particulars into that easement such as the manhole number. that Greenwood Metropolitan District has given us since the time that that document went into your packets.

Thank you, Mr. Bateman. Since we're in public hearing, I will ask, is there anyone here in the audience that wants to come forward to speak in favor of this presentation by Mr. Bateman? Seeing none, I will ask if there's anyone here who would like to speak in opposition of what you just heard. If not, I'll ask for a motion to close the public hearing. Mr. Templin, a motion to close the public hearing?

Second.

Ms. Griffin, seconds. All in favor of closing the public hearing? Thank you.

Mr. Chairman, I'll offer you a motion to approve. I second.

I have a motion to approve as presented by Mr. Allison, a second by Ms. Bishop. Any comments or questions before we vote? All in favor as presented? And that's unanimous and so ordered. Thank you very much. 1 remaining item of new business for the night authorization to purchase the property at 619 edgefield street, Greenwood, South Carolina from apt enterprises. Miss penny please.

You have a resolution in front of you memorializing this if you choose to approve it. Um, this is us asking to purchase the property, um, at 619 edgefield street, which is directly adjacent to the park Plaza property. So this would expand the park Plaza sort of footprint and our plan for the future and your plan from the future for park Plaza. Um, and this aids in that, um, the offer is 70,000 dollars plus closing costs.

I'll give you a motion to approve, Mr. Chairman.

I second.

Thank you. We've had conversation on this previously. Everyone's familiar. We have a motion by Mr. Templeton. We have a second by Ms. Bishop. Any comments or discussion before we vote? If not, all in favor is presented. And that's unanimous and so ordered. Thank you, Council. It's been a very long meeting. Before we move forward, I want to thank the staff for all the work that's been done in regard to the matters that we took before us tonight. It's been a very passionate exchange between the community, both feelings by Council and by the community. I know a lot of work has been done, as Rob said, hundreds of hours of work, and I want you to know how much we appreciate your work. So, having said that, district reports now. District 1, Ms. Griffin.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Again, thank you all for coming tonight and definitely for those that are staying. We definitely appreciate you being here tonight and going through the process. That so ends my report. All is well in District 1.

Thank you, Ms. Griffith. District 2, Mr. Allison.

Mr. Chairman, all is well in District 2 tonight.

All is well. District 3, Ms. Bishop.

On June the 20th, I had my litter pick up, and we ended up picking up 32 bags of trash, as well as 17 tires. And I wanted to thank all of the people that helped me. 17 tires. Yeah, I mean. it was a lot i wanted to thank mr craig stuckey miss nancy golf miss diane um spoon spoonenberg i hope i said her name sponenberg sponenberg i'm sorry thank you thank you miss um tara smith and mayor smith mayor brandon smith was there and we had two other community members um that um as well as um amber our litter coordinator so thank you guys for um helping me clean and it was a really good time and the even the weather was was pleasant for us and i was surprised about that but mr chairman that ends my report thank you miss bishop district for miss miller mr chairman um happy 250th birthday to our great country

And we absolutely do live in the best country in the world, in my opinion. I did attend a celebration at the Veterans Center celebrating the 250th anniversary of our country, and the entire Declaration of Independence was read. And I'm embarrassed to say that's the first time I'd actually heard the entire declaration. And it was phenomenal to hear that. I want to recognize two students who wrote essays about patriotism and actually read them at that event who did an excellent job. And they were, I think, were incoming freshmen at their respective high schools, Layla Brown and Riley Bowman. If you're out there, I told you I was going to give you a shout out. So congratulations to you. I'll remind everybody that the 25th Festival Discovery starts Thursday and was featured on WSPA News Channel 7 with our owner Kelly McWhorter and Gibson Hill representing us from the tourism staff. And if I could take just a personal moment here to share something with you for those remaining. I'm a year and a half into my role as county councilwoman, newest person on the council. So I've had to really dig in and learn about zoning ordinances, what the role and responsibilities of the planning commission has been, what our own code and county code of procedures during county council meetings were on South Carolina laws. And I've learned a lot about that. And during that discovery period, that's when we discovered that we actually as an individual council member could actually propose an ordinance and that's how the moratorium came before you tonight okay it was because of that discovery so i will always tell you that i ran on a campaign of being trusted and respected and i hope that that reputation will continue for me in greenwood county thank you district five mr pruitt thank you mr chairman i just want to say um

even though I was not able to fully attend the Festival of Stars, thanks to everyone that came out and supported our town in 96, spoke with the mayor, and he said Thursday night had 300 to 400 people doing the rides, and that's all they did Thursday night. And Friday, they had about 2,000 people. And then Saturday, there was a huge crowd. Compliments about the use of local bands this time. A lot of local talent was used and got a lot of compliments on that and the fireworks as always were a, uh, a big hit. Um, congratulations to teach him on his retirement. He did a lot for the 96 communities specifically parks and rec at 96 at the complex and, um, Russell Patterson will be taking on the range down there. Another 96 boy. I know he'll do. Well, speaking of the parks and rec teams, um. The 8U, the 10U and the 12U all won their districts. I can't ever remember that happening from a baseball perspective, and they all played for state championships. I think I'm pretty sure they all came up a little short, but the fact that we've got that much talent in 96 and Greenwood County speaks well for the future. From a personal standpoint, it was a tough week last week. having surgery and then having to console my wife for the loss of her mom and appreciate those that reached out. All the negative emails we were getting last week, it was nice to have some friendly faces show up. Thank you to those that visited. And I want to end like I always do with a Bible verse. John 8, 7 says, when they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her. That ends my report, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Pruitt. Mr. Templeton, District 6.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We've been here long enough, but I would be remiss if I did not thank District 50 for allowing us to use this facility, to Kevin Jolly for helping set it up, for Tom, Abby, Carson, Toby, Susan, everybody who had a part in doing this because it's a lot of work to go to a different location, but this is where we needed to be tonight, so I appreciate that. And I would also be remiss if I didn't thank law enforcement for being here, watching overs. You guys don't get enough credit. Give them a hand, folks. And lastly, Dane's had a loss in his family, obviously, and so many others. And a friend of mine, Christy Wright, lost a family member this past week, and it's been really hard on her. So let's just keep all those who have faced losses and took things in their lives in our prayers. Thank you. That is my report.

Thank you Mr. Templeton. Last thing I'm going to say, you know, as I said, there was a lot of passion in the room tonight, but I thought everyone conducted themselves very civilly and we appreciate that. Mr. Templeton always tells me that we can disagree without being disagreeable and I agree with that. So I thank you for the respect. We won't always agree on every topic. but I do believe that everyone's heart is in the right place. And I think that's probably the most important thing for us to always recall and try to act on. So with that, all is well in District 7. As far as I know, I've been pretty busy lately with some other matters outside of District 7, but all is well. Thank you all for being here tonight. We'll stand adjourned. Oh, excuse me. Excuse me. Nothing from the staff. Nothing from staff. Thank you.