A nine-month data center moratorium is in place in Tazewell County.
The county board unanimously approved the moratorium Wednesday after the board's land use committee and the county's Zoning Board of Appeals [ZBA] each unanimously recommended approval.
The moratorium will remain in effect until July 28, 2027, unless the board lifts it before then.
No data center applications have ever been submitted to the county, and none can be filed during the moratorium.
The county will use the moratorium time to continue crafting a data center ordinance that will list rules and regulations for the controversial facilities that have been opposed vigorously throughout the country.
The board, land use committee, ZBA, and the community development and state's attorney's staffs have been charged with creating Tazewell County's data center ordinance.
"There's no set date on when the ordinance will be done. Hopefully, it will be ready for a vote by the county board by the end of the moratorium," said Jaclynn Workman, the county's community development administrator.
Work has started on the ordinance. The only proposed rule in place so far is allowing data centers only in areas zoned industrial.
Russ Crawford, the soon-to-be-ex-chairman of the land use committee because he's not running for re-election next week after more than 40 years on the board, said the committee has a tough task ahead.
"Data centers aren't like anything this committee has ever worked on," he said. "People are so emotional about them."
The ordinance establishing the moratorium says the board "is aware of the extensive concerns of the residents and taxpayers of Tazewell County in regard to the development of the infrastructure and operation of data centers."
Also, the board "has an interest in protecting the health, safety and general welfare of the residents of Tazewell County, as well as protecting the county's infrastructure, natural resources and properties and their values."
Nearby Woodford County also has a data center moratorium in place.
Online rabies tags
Tazewell County residents will be able to purchase rabies tags for their pets online thanks to a no-cost agreement with North Carolina-based Permitium for LicenseDirector software approved Wednesday by the board.
Rabies tags also can be purchased by mail, in-person at the county's animal control facility in Tremont, and at veterinarians' offices with no additional fee.
While the software is free for the county, there is a technology fee. County officials said consumers will cover the cost of the fee.
LicenseDirector is a cloud-based SaaS [software as a service] platform for processing permit and license applications.
Security for jail tunnel
Also Wednesday, the board:
- Approved spending $93,200 for security system upgrades in the Tazewell County Jail control room. The upgrades — purchased from Security Automation Systems of Indianapolis — are needed because of the secure access tunnel that will connect the under-construction Justice Center Annex with the jail.
- Approved the purchase of a replacement truck for the animal control department after a truck was totaled in an August traffic crash. Cost of the 2027 Ram 1500 is about $41,800. With the addition of equipment and money received from insurance, the net cost is about $29,650.
- Approved 2% cost-of-living pay increases next year for non-union full-time employees. The employees are eligible for an additional 2% increase based on performance.
- Approved a quarterly payment of $18,750 to the Greater Peoria Economic Development Council.
- Approved workers' compensation settlements of about $122,000 and $29,200.
