The DeKalb County Commission voted Thursday to delay a decision on a resolution regulating data centers until next month to allow for more public input and commission discussion.
District 2 County Commissioner Myron Rhody made the motion to postpone the vote during the meeting. He suggested that the commission needs to gather more feedback from the community before making a final decision on the regulations.
“I feel like this needs to be tabled. We need to discuss it more,” Rhody said. “I appreciate Matthias’s effort and all the time and hard work he’s put in to his facts and figures, but I think this deserves more discussion than what we’re doing right now.”
The motion to table the resolution passed with a 10-1 vote, with Commissioner Matthias Anderson voting no. The resolution, which was recommended by the Health, Education, and Public Welfare committee, aims to establish regulations regarding noise and nuisance factors for future data centers. The commission will revisit the topic at a workshop before the February meeting.
“I think we might want to look into zoning a little deeper,” District 3 County Commissioner Jack Barton said. “I think it shouldn’t be a spur of the moment decision. I do think we need to educate ourselves and the public.”
The proposed resolution focuses on mitigating noise disturbances from cooling units and other equipment associated with data processing centers. It outlines specific decibel limits and setback requirements for facilities located near residential areas, schools, and churches.
“Right now, if an industry came in, whether it be an automotive factory or a factory that just makes noise, they could do so in the county without repercussion,” Anderson said. “This simply gives us a way to consider these things really before they come in unannounced.”
The issue arose after County Mayor Matt Adcock received an inquiry from a company interested in locating a nuclear-powered data center in DeKalb County. Being proactive, Adcock modeled the proposed resolution from a similar one adopted after passage of the county powers act in 2024 to include regulations of such nuclear-powered facilities. Without zoning laws currently in place, officials are utilizing the act to address potential nuisances like noise and resource consumption.
“I want us to get some more feedback and see what’s going on,” Rhody said. “Give the opportunity, thirty days or whatever, and let’s see what people want.” The resolution will be presented again for discussion at the next county workshop and is expected to be on the agenda for the February regular session.