GRANT COUNTY — Redevelopment along Interstate 69 near Fairmount is off the table, according to the Grant County Board of Commissioners.

The governing body canceled all remaining listening sessions following the March 5 gathering in Fowlerton and published a post on social media the next day announcing the schedule changes.

“The Commissioners are canceling the remaining listening sessions for Exit 255 and will no longer pursue development for that area,” the commissioners wrote in their Facebook post on March 6.

District 3 Commissioner Ron Stewart further explained the reasons behind canceling the remaining meetings.

“The decision was made to stop the sessions due to the fact that these sessions had become hostile and confrontational,” Commissioner Stewart said in an email interview with the Chronicle-Tribune on March 9. “We were concerned that some type of altercation could take place with the consultant that was facilitating the meetings.”

BCS Management Managing Director and Consultant Chris Kellner said the commissioners contacted him on Friday afternoon and explained why they chose to stop the sessions.

“The commissioners canceled the remaining listening sessions because they became a political show rather than serving their intended purpose – collecting data about public sentiment toward Exit 255 development,” Kellner told the Chronicle-Tribune on March 9.

During the March 2 listening session in Gas City, dozens of local residents came to the meeting, bringing their questions and comments with them.

Kellner answered questions about the survey and listened to concerns from the community during the first hour of the session.

Many residents voiced they had no interest in any redevelopment along Exit 255. Nearly half the gathered group in the Gas City Performing Arts Center front lobby rose to their feet after an audience member called for people to stand if they did not want redevelopment in the area.

Kellner said he anticipated that subsequent gatherings would have the same energy as Gas City’s listening session.

“As expected, the Fowlerton session was the most energized,” Kellner said. “After all, Exit 255 is right in their backyard.”

However, Kellner said answering questions and addressing public concerns comes with the territory.

“My job often involves handling heated discussions in public venues,” he explained. “I’ve handled much more intense meetings than the Fowlerton one, so it was light work for me.”

According to Commissioner Stewart, the listening sessions had deviated from their intended purpose.

“These sessions were designed to be information gathering-only from the public, as we were simply trying to determine if citizens were in favor of utilities being run to that interchange for future development,” he said. “Instead, the sessions turned into ‘campaign stops’ and ‘town halls’ for individuals holding and running for public office.”

The Chronicle-Tribune also reached out to Commissioners Shane Middlesworth and Chuck Poling for comment but did not receive responses from them by press time.

Commissioners’ comments on redevelopment and data centers

At the request of District 3 Commissioner Stewart and pending attorney review, the commissioners passed a data center moratorium at their March 2 meeting.

The board unanimously approved the moratorium following a motion by Commissioner Stewart and a second from President Middlesworth. The board stated last week it is not in favor of data center development on unincorporated Grant County land.

“I’ve been very clear that I’m opposed to them on unincorporated land, especially farm ground,” Stewart said during board discussion last Monday.

Commissioners Middlesworth and Poling agreed.

“I’m against it for the whole county, not just in the farmland,” Poling added.

In addition to comments expressed in recent public meetings, the commissioners released a combined statement regarding redevelopment and data centers in a Feb. 19 Facebook post.

“There are no planned developments or projects at this time,” the commissioners wrote.

The governing body added, “The Commissioners also want to be clear that there are no plans for, nor any involvement with, data centers on unincorporated land.”

Exit 255 survey remains open

Though the remaining listening sessions are canceled, the commissioners explained on social media they are keeping the Exit 255 survey live “for anyone who would still like to provide input.”

“The surveys are still open for those that wish to give their opinions,” Commissioner Stewart said. “But we feel the public has spoken and the commissioners will no longer explore development at this site.”

Those who want to submit feedback online can do so by visiting https://forms.gle/84iWgD9Kg6RvT 6gC6.

“Individual responses are voluntary and confidential. These responses will be summarized into an official Public Sentiment Report,” the commissioners said on the website. “No specific, identifying information shared in this survey will be made public.”

The deadline to send in feedback is March 19. Results will then be tabulated, with a goal of publishing the findings in April, Kellner added.
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