With an Amazon data center under construction in Perry Township and other sites under consideration, Stark County’s elected officials say that they’re trying to balance economic development and constituent complaints about the developments.
Commissioner Richard Regula described it as “a complex issue” and said he understands concerns about electric, water and the loss of farmland. But he also recognizes that the region is uniquely suited to attract data centers because of its abundant water and power.
“We are in the heart of it all, right here, because we’re producing a tremendous amount of energy in this region, thanks to the oil and gas industry,” he said.
Regula — who does not support a state sales tax exemption because it includes local revenue — still sees benefits to tax revenue and to having data stored locally, rather than overseas. He said three other sites in Stark County are being considered for data centers but did not share details.
“I think there’s a lot of potential and a lot of concerns,” Regula said. “They’re coming, and we’ve just got to make sure that we protect property values, protect the water supply when it comes to discharges and things like that, but I can see a lot of upsides to them.”
A major data center planned for Perry Township has involved collaboration between the township, Canton and Stark County. The site is in a Joint Economic Development District (JEDD) and will receive Canton water.
But the township and city’s relationship has been strained because of a clause in a 2023 JEDD agreement that prevents Canton from annexing Perry Township property without trustee approval.
Mayor William V. Sherer II, who was elected after the agreement was in place, has pushed to renegotiate it and temporarily refused new water hookups for township residents. The municipalities have yet to resolve the dispute.
Because of the JEDD, the data center will pay a 2.5% income tax. Canton will collect 2%, and Perry Township will collect 0.5%.
“I want to make sure that everybody, from day one, is paying income tax,” said Sherer, who had a meeting in April with the general contractor.
The mayor said data centers are an economic development opportunity, like the manufacturing industry that once played a larger local role. But he wants to make sure the companies are investing in the community, not just existing in it.
“If we do happen to get a data center that comes within the city limits of Canton, it’s up to us to negotiate the best deal that we can,” Sherer said.
Perry Township Administrator Gerrie Cotter previously told The Canton Repository that the township hoped for a “positive economic impact” from the data center. Trustees told residents at a packed meeting that the township doesn’t have the authority to enact a moratorium or change the property’s industrial zoning. Site plans are reviewed on the county level.
Township trustees approved a 75% property tax abatement for the data center in March and defended that action in a handout distributed at an open house April 15. The agreement includes $2.75 million in upfront payments over the first four years and measures to mitigate resident concerns.
“These decisions were made after considering both the potential benefits of the project, the township’s position within the JEDD framework, and the needs of the township overall,” according to the township’s statement.
In Massillon, a Bitdeer cryptocurrency mining facility is partially complete on the city’s southwest side. Mayor Jamie Slutz said the Singapore-based company has been “very good neighbors.”
“People complained about them before they built, but since they’ve opened a couple buildings and have them up and running, maybe like a third of what they intend to have up and running, we haven’t had one complaint about them,” he said.
The 31-acre development does not serve the same purpose as a traditional data center, but it’s an energy-intensive operation with its own substation. Bitdeer has pledged to create 70 full-time jobs at the site.
When the global tech company asked Slutz for a letter to support a planned facility in Niles, Slutz described a “great partnership.” In addition to constructing a larger sound barrier and doubling the size of a retention pond to ease community concerns, he said Bitdeer has donated to community events, such as the city’s Independence Day celebration.
Slutz said the city would welcome a data center with the same approach. City Council recently agreed to scale back a 180-day moratorium and is evaluating zoning rules amid interest from a developer.
“If somebody wants to come to Massillon and bring business here, we’re going to sit down and talk to them, and we’re going to make a decision on what’s best for our community and our residents,” he said.
Reach Kelly at 330-580-8323 or kelly.byer@cantonrep.com.
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Stark County officials try to balance data center progress, pushback
Reporting by Kelly Byer, Canton Repository / The Repository
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
