Harrison commissioners replace land bank resolutions

The Harrison County Commissioners rescinded two previously approved resolutions related to the creation of a county land bank and immediately adopted replacement resolutions with corrected language.

The commissioners rescinded Resolutions 19-26 and 20-26, which were approved March 18, citing incomplete or inaccurate information.

“Following further review, the Board determined that the resolutions were adopted based upon information that was later found to be inaccurate and/or incomplete,” the commissioners siai.

Following the action, Commissioner Dustin Corder read Resolutions 42-26 and 43-26, which were approved by the board. The resolutions establish the Harrison County Land Reutilization Corporation for the county treasurer’s office in accordance with Ohio Revised Code Section 5722.15 “to facilitate the effective reutilization of nonproductive land situated within its boundaries.”

Commissioners said the effort to create a county land bank has not changed and the issue involved only a minor wording correction.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Ohio House District 95 candidate Paul Cameron, D-New Philadelphia, asked commissioners about rumors that data centers may be purchasing former Consol Energy property near the Cadiz Country Club and what zoning or permitting requirements would apply.

“The county doesn’t have zoning,” Corder said. “The zoning would fall under presumably the village of Cadiz if it’s out there. To our knowledge there’s been no purchase of that property. According to the recorder there’s been no purchase of that property.”

Corder said zoning authority would depend on which jurisdiction the property is located in. After reviewing the matter, he added Cadiz Township also does not have zoning regulations. Commissioner Paul Prevot said the commissioners would not be involved in the zoning process.

“Well, they generally come back looking for tax abatements and utility abatements when they do this,” Cameron said.

Corder acknowledged that possibility but said tax abatements often are misunderstood. He explained many economic development projects instead use PILOT agreements, or payments in lieu of taxes.

“While it seems that we’re touting that they’re not going to be paying taxes, there will be taxes paid just in a different form or fashion I guess,” Corder said.

Following the meeting, Cameron said he remains concerned about the growth of data centers and efforts to attract them to communities. He said such facilities often create relatively few jobs and, in some cases, have been criticized for relying on out-of-state workers rather than local hiring.

Cameron also expressed concerns about nondisclosure agreements that can limit public access to information about projects, as well as the potential strain data centers place on electric and water infrastructure.

He said the impact would be less concerning if companies agreed to cover increased utility costs, but argued that nondisclosure agreements often prevent the public from knowing the details.