Chillicothe — Online comments and reporting covered the long and well-attended review session a week ago where the developer of the proposed data center gave a presentation and answered questions from the public.
On September 8th, 2026, Council held a review session after passing a “data center moratorium” on August 24th to legally block development of the controversial industry within city limits for 60 days. (Apologies for my late reporting; I was out sick for five days.)
The company that is planning to build the site in the Chilpaco division of the former paper mill – Alignment Engine of Canton, Ohio – gave a presentation in the session, then answered questions from the public. Watch most of their presentation in my story on the September 8th review session.
The event in the auditorium of Chillicothe High School hosted about 350 attendees and lasted two hours. Questions and applause implied that maybe three-quarters of the audience was not opposed the the project, with several former paper mill workers speaking out.
Council continued discussion on the data center issue before their regular session in Chillicothe High School Auditorium again yesterday, September 14th – where they surprisingly rescinded the moratorium. Learn more in that and upcoming stories.
The best video coverage of the event, with clear audio and showing the presentation slides, is a video reel from the Facebook page “Richard McQuirt for 4th Ward.” The handheld vertical-format video lasts an hour-and-a-half, until the end of the Q&A.
McQuirt wrote “here is almost a full video of the review meeting tonight. It was good to see everyone from US PAPER MILL. Seeing their faces and worry as they are fighting for the right to make a living is hard. But I felt you alls pain. We are going to get this right for you all,Chillicothe, and all our citizens. A better day is coming for Chillicothe.”
The most complete video coverage is the semi-official videorecord (a live feed at the time) volunteered by the Greater Chillicothe Ross County Film Commission. The vertical-format 2:12 video starts awkwardly but after about six minutes is moved to the front of the auditorium. It includes everything to the closing address by council president.
Online Commentary After the Review Session
One post read:
I went to the information meeting about one of the companies that are investing in the paper mill site. They are Alignment Engine and they are putting in what they called a data hall. Yes very similar to the data centers that have been creating such a stir with everyone. But it's nowhere near the size. They are also manufacturing computer chip boards among other things.
The presentation was very informative about what they do, the jobs they are creating and the pay related to those jobs, the environmental impact and economical impact. We should be happy about the investment being done at the old site and the fact that it should be good for our community.
But not surpringly and unfortunately, the brainwashed idiots were on full display saying some of the dumbest stuff and asking questions that were CLEARLY answered in the presentation. I hope they don't discourage companies from investing in our community. Because the brainwashed idiots don't represent a majority of Ross County.
In another, Serena DeGarmo wrote:
To the audience members who booed and heckled a 15 year old girl who cares enough about her community to show up to a city council meeting, shame on you.
You probably went home with a misplaced sense of righteousness, proud of yourself for having the courage to anonymously jeer a child from your seat.
She came to ask questions. She came to listen. You came to judge.
Did you judge her youthfulness, her appearance or just despise her because she spoke to the core of your selfishness and greed?
She asked what the EMF output of the facility would be. She asked if they had data to show effects on bees, our #1 pollinator of all things green, which means they are the propigators our oxygen and food supply.
In case you missed science class, that’s a big deal.
So next time, come informed. Come ready to participate in real conversation. Our community deserves it.
Sincerely,
A Proud Mother
of the girl in the hat
Third Ward Councilman Gunner Barnes was the lone vote to maintain the moratorium on September 14th. After the September 8th review session, he had commented:
Hello, folks. I’d like to share my thoughts and feelings about last nights review meeting on the data center campus:
I want to start off by saying it was great seeing so many people there in attendance. It’s encouraging to see so many get into the process of caring for one’s community. Everyone had great questions and it I gathered a lot from them. The presentation was nice but I have some remaining questions and concerns that I hope get addressed:
1.) The speaker said this wasn’t a “data center”, but the presentation had the words “data center” all over the place. When a member of the audience asked him if it was a data center or not, he went around the question for a bit then finally said it is a data center. I was very happy he finally said it was a data center, but why jump around the question? If it looks like a dog, barks like a dog, wags its tail like a dog, then it’s probably a dog. I’m happy he clarified, but lack of steadiness answering the question alarmed me. That being said, he did bring up that in the future a 400MW data center could be built at the facility. Granted that would have to be changed within the codified ordnance, but that leaves more questions. When would that happen? Would a future council who was not privy of this know exactly what to do? My hope is that with more meetings like this, the answers become more concrete. First dates are always awkward, right?
2.) They promised these jobs will go to locals first. How exactly will that happen and what will be the process and how will the company stay liable to said promise? The list of jobs there seemed great, don’t get me wrong. I’d love for the community to get first picks at these jobs, but how are we going to hold this company accountable for that? Bernie Moreno promised the mill would be making paper for another 200 years with all these workers, then nothing. Folks had to start over to make a living after being promised so much. This hardworking community has went through too many false promises. I want to take what alignment is saying with truth and integrity. Of course I do, but it’s important to hold them accountable with these types of promises. That goes for all the promises: Wanting to rebuild the infrastructure and cover that cost. These are all very nice and amazing offers…but they are still promises at the end of the day. Again, holding them accountable is a concern of mine.
3.) When asked if these jobs would be union jobs, there wasn’t much discussion on that. Unions are incredible important. They give security and a voice to workers. The union worked tirelessly for the mill employees towards the end, and I don’t think it’s asking a lot for the workers to be protected.
There was a lot of information put out there yesterday and I intend to ask more questions from myself and from anyone else. I will also be contacting them requesting a tour of the facility so that my questions can be answered. With staying true to my vocabulary word of the week, I will be giving you all the full transparency of that visit and also let the rest of council know so they can join me. Not one single person on council can tackle this alone. It’s important we work together on this and share information as soon as we get it with one another so we can do the important thing, and that’s put your guys best interests before ourselves. The rest of council and I may differ on things at times, but I do know if we work together, we can make this community safe and better for all.
We have a lot of work cut out for us. I will be transparent and sharing information as I get it. Thank you all and reach out if you have any questions, comments or concerns.
Thank you.
Selected comments on Barnes’ post:
Donnie Ray Miller wrote:
You cannot force a company to be liable and saying that the jobs will stay in Chillicothe and expect them hold to that. Situations change That's like asking Tumbleweed to say and that they will never leave Chillicothe.
With all the laws in place to protect employees and companys you cannot get around that. Unions are on the down slide. Kenworth is a prime example of supplying local residents with great paying jobs without a union taking your hard-earned pay. And people will say yes but Kenworth lays up every year and that is the fact it is all driven by business and needs. When I started at the paper mill in 1979 there was over 3,200 jobs at the Mill. In the end there were 800. And yes I was there for 34 years.
One thing I would encourage city council to do if there is any other open forums is to set two rules number one time limitations number two sticking to the subject. Too many people last night we're discussing things that had nothing to do with the data hub informational hearing.
Chris Dove commented:
1) he was attempting to make the disctintion between the hyperscale campuses that get the bad press and the data center at the Paper Mill
The data center at the paper mill would be like 1 of 50 “data halls” at a larger site
Barnes responded:
I do get that and I’m glad he finally just got around to initially saying it was a data center. That was my only concern. Chris Dove: it was definitely a bit muddled and confusing and I’m glad the older gentleman asked the clarifying question for everyoneI do get that and I’m glad he finally just got around to initially saying it was a data center. That was my only concern.
Chris Dove:
it was definitely a bit muddled and confusing and I’m glad the older gentleman asked the clarifying question for everyone
Two Columbus television stations were at the event:
- Channel 10 hosts a two-and-a-half minute video report on their website.
- Channel 6 posted the story “Chillicothe demands transparency as data center details emerge amid NDA scandal.”
Dan Ramey of Litter Media reported “Alignment Engine Presents Answers to Data Center Questions During Public Review Session” with a link to 28-minute audio-only recording of the presentation.
Shelby Reeves of the Chillicothe Gazette produced two stories:
- “Five things we learned at Alignment Engine’s data center presentation“
- “Company makes case for data center at former mill“
Council met in Chillicothe High School Auditorium again on September 14th, 2026, with the main session starting at 7pm. Before then were committee meetings, with Engineering (including research on the data center) at 4:15, and City Facilities (considering moving council chambers) from 6:15 to 7:00.
Learn more in stories on that session, including “Chillicothe City Council Reverses Course, Lifts Moratorium on Data Centers.”
