Jefferson County Board of Supervisors Packet Summary — 2026-08-10
Meeting Title: Board of Supervisors Meeting
The Jefferson County Board of Supervisors’ August 10 materials center on a 6:00 p.m. public hearing on a proposed Data Center Ordinance at the Jefferson County Courthouse. The tentative agenda states there was no regular Board meeting scheduled for August 10; the public hearing was the scheduled Board activity for that date.
Key Item: Data Center Ordinance
The Board scheduled a public hearing in the courthouse courtroom to receive public input on a proposed county ordinance addressing data centers.
The proceedings from the hearing document substantial public comment about the proposal. Issues raised by participants included:
- Water consumption, drought conditions, and potential effects on the Jordan Aquifer.
- Electrical demand, including concerns about power shortages and impacts on existing businesses.
- Noise standards and enforcement requirements.
- Testing, monitoring, and transparency requirements for data center operators.
- Community investment requirements.
- The ordinance's proposed 5 MW threshold, which one participant recommended lowering.
- Environmental and community impacts.
- Maintaining local control over data center development.
- Whether additional safeguards should be established before data centers are permitted.
The proceedings also report that Supervisor Susie Drish requested a review of a City of Fairfield public survey. Patrick Bosold reported 623 responses and characterized most responses as overwhelmingly opposed to data centers.
Temporary Moratorium Proposal
A recurring subject during the public hearing was whether Jefferson County should temporarily stop issuing new data center permits while the county continues considering its regulatory approach.
Multiple speakers advocated for a 24-month moratorium, with one participant suggesting an option to extend it. The materials do not document adoption of a moratorium at the August 10 hearing.
Instead, the tentative agenda schedules the Board to discuss and consider a Resolution Establishing a Temporary Moratorium on new Data Center permits under Jefferson County Code Chapter 5-45 during its August 11 weekly meeting.
Next Steps Scheduled for August 11
The packet shows that the Data Center Ordinance was expected to return to the Board the following morning. The August 11 agenda includes several related actions for consideration:
- Set a date and time for a second public hearing on the Data Center Ordinance.
- Discuss and consider waiving the second and third public hearings.
- Discuss and consider the Data Center Ordinance itself.
- Discuss and consider the resolution establishing a temporary moratorium on new data center permits under Jefferson County Code Chapter 5-45.
The public-hearing proceedings state that comments received August 10 would help the Board continue working on the issue and that a vote on the ordinance was anticipated the following day. That statement reflects the planned next step documented in the proceedings, not an August 10 approval.
Public Hearing Proceedings
The proceedings document that the hearing began at 6:00 p.m. in the second-floor courtroom of the Jefferson County Courthouse. Supervisors Susie Drish, Joe Ledger, and Lee Dimmitt were present.
The Board formally entered the public hearing by unanimous motion. After receiving public comments, the Board unanimously approved a motion to close the hearing, and the proceedings record adjournment at 6:45 p.m.
What to Watch
The principal issue following the August 10 hearing is how the Board responds to public comments when considering the Data Center Ordinance and proposed temporary moratorium.
Specific points identified in the hearing record that could affect further revisions include water and energy impacts, noise requirements, monitoring and testing, community investment provisions, the ordinance's 5 MW threshold, and the duration and scope of a possible moratorium.
Civic Translator summarized publicly available meeting materials from the Jefferson County Board of Supervisors.
