Adams County Residents Rally Skepticism at Town Meeting Over Data Centers

Manchester residents packed a Wednesday night town-hall in Adams County to press questions about efforts to market the former Killen and J.M. Stuart power plant sites along the Ohio River for possible data centers, and organizers urged attendance at a Sprigg Township trustees meeting scheduled for Feb. 23. The meeting came as county officials continue early talks and residents pointed to potential impacts on Brush Creek, traffic and rural character.

Adams County economic development director Paul Worley told attendees he has signed nondisclosure agreements while marketing the Killen and J.M. Stuart parcels and said the sites are attractive because they have existing power and water infrastructure. Worley told reporters, “We don't want to turn away any opportunity if it's going to create good-paying jobs.” County officials have discussed tax incentives and said enforcement would be used to try to secure local benefits, even as the county lacks zoning that would categorically block data centers on other parcels.

Local business owner Nikki Gerber voiced concerns about construction disruption, saying, “I don't like the fact that some of our neighbors are going to have to deal with 24-hour construction.” Emily Harper of Manchester said she has “many unanswered questions regarding the size, location and job growth potential of a project” and noted that the economic development director has signed nondisclosure agreements. Monroe Township Trustee Brenda Emery urged caution, saying, “I’m not opposed to something that’s compatible with our rural setting that would help jobs,” but warned, “These are not long-term jobs for the loss that we’re going to have forever.”

Environmental and infrastructure questions threaded through the meeting. Residents cited concerns about large water withdrawals affecting Brush Creek and local aquifers; a June 2025 photo of Brush Creek was referenced by residents as emblematic of long-term water stakes. Attendees also raised light pollution, increased traffic and municipal service strain if large industrial development follows any annexation. A thousand-acre parcel across the road from J.M. Stuart, identified as a former Dayton Power and Light landfill, has renderings submitted to the Ohio EPA by a Virginia engineering firm for 11 light industrial buildings, prompting calls for clarity on water and power capacity.

Questions about transparency and property transfers also surfaced. Resident Zach Bly described a “shell game” in which developers buy land and transfer parcels to other companies, saying developers appear to be purchasing “hundreds of acres with no plan in mind.” Village leaders reported nondisclosure agreements signed by a council member, the village engineer and an outside economic development director, while Mayor Brad Grime said, “we have not specifically been contacted about a data center coming into the community. That’s not to say they (the land purchasers) aren’t having discussions with other people about it.”

Developers and outside officials offered reassurances at recent meetings. A statement attributed to Iron Ridge was read aloud saying a data center is not being pursued and adding, “There’s nothing to worry about.” Fulton County economic development director Jim Wyse likewise told residents, “There’s nothing to worry about.” Local contractor Parton, who worked on substation piers for a nearby Amazon site, said of potential local bids, “Absolutely. And I believe there'd be opportunity for other contractors in the area to do work here as they're building and after they're built.”

No formal data center proposal or annexation request has been filed as of the town-hall, and residents left demanding hard numbers on power interconnection, estimated water withdrawals, job counts and traffic studies. Organizers encouraged petitions and urged neighbors to attend the Feb. 23 Sprigg Township trustees meeting to press for answers and public review.