ASHVILLE, Ohio — Tensions ran high during Monday’s Ashville Village Council meeting as residents demanded answers regarding proposed data center annexations and comments made by Village Administrator Bert Cline during an NBC4 interview.
Citizens questioned Cline’s statement that there would be “no vote” on the data center, claiming the project was already a “done deal.” Several Ashville residents, along with people from outside the village, challenged council members to clarify whether those comments accurately reflected the village’s position and decision-making process.
Council members explained that portions of the property sought by EdgeConneX for the nearly 600-acre data center involve several properties, some of which are already zoned light industrial, as well as annexation matters and existing agreements, which they said could complicate their position. However, many residents expressed frustration, saying they still felt unclear about how much authority the council or the public has in determining the project’s future.
During the meeting, the council entered an executive session that lasted nearly an hour in a meeting they said with the village solicitor. When members returned, residents continued to ask questions and voice opposition to the proposed development.
Members of the public made their stance visible by wearing “No Data Center” buttons and red clothing along with a lighted No Data Center sign in the snow outside, signaling strong opposition to the facility at its proposed location.
The proposed data center and related annexations remain a highly contentious issue in Ashville, with residents calling for greater transparency and clearer communication from village leadership as discussions move forward.
