Data center opposition signs like this one have popped up in yards across Hancock County in recent months. On Wednesday afternoon, Hancock County Commissioners publicly announced their decision to not go forward with a proposed data center in Buck Creek Township.
Data center opposition signs like this one have popped up in yards across Hancock County in recent months. On Wednesday afternoon, Hancock County Commissioners publicly announced their decision to not go forward with a proposed data center in Buck Creek Township.
“We will now proceed with our agenda, which concerns economic development. And the commissioners have a statement to deliver.”

The nearly-full Commissioners Court fell quiet with a thick tension surrounding the room as Hancock County Commissioner Bill Spalding read a prepared statement.

“As many of you know, this board was approached earlier this year to consider incentives and the rezone of a property for a data center,” Spalding said. “After numerous presentations, public meetings, a site visit and overall due diligence, it is the view of this board that there are other areas of the county that are zoned for data centers, and we do not believe the proposed site is the right location for this project. We will not be moving forward with incentives or rezoning on this project.”

With that statement in a meeting Wednesday, the commissioners put an end to speculation about a proposed data center on 775 acres of agricultural property in Buck Creek Township, next to popular family farm Tuttle Orchards. While it is possible a similar proposal could be brought in a different location, the commissioners believe that site is not suitable for this type of development.

The verbal shutdown looks to be the end of a multi-month saga in which various residents of Hancock County voiced opposition to the project brought forward by Surge Development, with their concerns ranging from energy usage to potential tax abatements.

In a lengthy public comment section after the statement, county residents applauded the commissioners for their decision, while urging the public to remain cautious about future developments.

Leah Lederman, administrator of the Save Hancock County Facebook group, said when the county is dealing with multi-billion dollar companies, the county becomes “the little guy” and county officials need to be careful about what projects come to Hancock County.

“Take what’s being said here into account, because we’ve been right before. I’m starting to see abatements being turned down, and these warehouses being turned down, citing the reasons that we gave in 2022 when the last of these were approved,” she said. “Nothing has changed since then. We know that residents’ quality of life, construction, all the drained resources — it’s an issue and has been. And we called it. And I know it was a previous administration, but now you’re here and you are our hope.”

In her public comments, Pamela Bennett brought up how during negotiations for data centers across several counties, officials have had to sign non-disclosure agreements. In Franklin Township in Marion County, at least one government official signed an NDA for confidential details about a proposed data center by an unnamed company — which was later revealed to be Google.

“I think that’s a huge conflict of interest, because you guys represent us,” Bennett said. “The second you sign an agreement with them (a developer) saying you won’t tell us what they’re doing, you’re on the wrong side. You’re representing them.”

Commissioner Jeannine Gray said even though she personally does not like non-disclosure, she understands she will not have a seat at the table and negotiate with developers and major companies if she does not sign an NDA, a comment that received scattered jeers throughout the audience.

“I’m going to be at the table with the big guys from the minute that project comes into fruition so that I can protect my constituents. I don’t want to find out about it six months after,” Gray said.

Karen Wogenstall, a new Hancock County resident with 20 years of environmental engineering experience, said if a data center proposal comes to Hancock County again, the county should hire an independent environmental engineering company to do a survey about water consumed by a potential project and to consult state environmental protection agencies and organizations.

“You don’t want to rely on the developer’s engineers at all, because of course they’re going to write it in favor of the project,” she said.

Even though developer Chris King pulled his proposal in May, the project came to mind for local residents in June. That’s when Gov. Mike Braun appointed the Shelbyville developer to Indiana Economic Development Corp.’s board of directors. Braun replaced the previous eight-member panel with nine appointees, five of whom — including King — were also financial contributors to Braun’s campaign.

A few days after the new board was named, the IEDC approved $168 million of tax incentives for four proposed data centers, including one in Hancock County. Information about the proposed data center, called “Project Redline” by IEDC, did not include information about proposed location, but King recused himself from the discussion and the vote to award tax breaks.

As stories about the project appeared online, some residents commenting on social media wondered if King is connected to Project Redline.

Some residents noted King’s new IEDC role in their public comments at Wednesday’s meeting, including Spring Lake resident Julie Robertson, who raised it as a conflict of interest. She also added that anyone who votes to allow a data center in Hancock County would not get her vote in a re-election campaign, a sentiment that drew cheers from the crowd.

“Anybody who is going to benefit with a developer should not be on the board deciding these things,” Robertson said. “That is a conflict of interest.”

Spalding later clarified there are areas in the county comprehensive plan (scroll a few pages down on the link to see a color-coded map)marked either as industrial (marked in gray)or as business park (marked in light blue), where a data center would be “more appropriate.” The Hancock County code of ordinances lists “data processing/call center” as an acceptable use for industrial general, industrial light and industrial business park-zoned areas, according to ordinances passed in 2007.

The Daily Reporter reached out to Hancock Economic Development Council for comment, but representatives declined to comment.

Erin Sweitzer, IEDC’s deputy chief of staff and vice president of external communications, said IEDC “cannot confirm or comment on potential projects that have not been finalized and announced.”

The Daily Reporter also reached out to King for comment, but none was made by press time.
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