LEWISTOWN — Data centers have become a growing topic of debate across the country, and that national conversation has now arrived in Lewistown — where it took center stage during Thursday morning’s Mifflin County Commissioners meeting at the courthouse.

What began as a routine public meeting quickly evolved into a deeper community discussion as two individuals raised concerns about a rumored data center project in Granville Township. The time reserved for public comment caused the tone of the meeting to shift noticeably, with uncertainty and unanswered questions dominating the presentation by Mike Leeper and Joe Brown.

Leeper addressed commissioners with a detailed statement that reflected both his own concerns and those of thousands of others.

Leeper said the central issue is not necessarily what is known about the potential project, but what is not.

To emphasize that point, he presented petitions containing 6,601 signatures opposing the development of a data center in Granville Township. He noted that the number continues to grow and said the signatures represent residents who are uneasy about the scale and implications of such a project.

At the heart of Leeper’s remarks was the concept of “environmental impact,” which he described as a broad and complex issue with many interconnected concerns. He pointed to potential effects on air quality, water quality, groundwater systems and the aquifer that supports both private wells and municipal water supplies.

In a township where many residents rely on well water, Leeper said questions about water usage are especially troubling. Data centers, he explained, often require significant amounts of water for cooling systems. While some have suggested the use of closed-loop systems, he expressed skepticism, noting that evaporation would require continuous replenishment of water resources.

That uncertainty, he said, raises concerns about whether the existing water supply could handle the demand without negatively impacting residents. He also warned of possible runoff issues tied to large-scale development, including stormwater discharge, soil erosion, and the potential for contamination of nearby waterways such as the Juniata River.

Beyond environmental concerns, Leeper and Brown highlighted questions about infrastructure. He asked whether local roads, traffic patterns, wastewater systems and the electrical grid could handle the demands of a data center, and if not, who would be responsible for funding upgrades.

Energy demand was another major concern. Large data centers can place significant strain on power systems, and Leeper questioned whether existing infrastructure could support such usage without affecting residential and commercial customers.

He also raised concerns about potential health impacts, both short-term and long-term, acknowledging that such effects are often difficult to measure or prove. Still, he argued that the lack of clear answers should prompt caution rather than quick approval.

Financial considerations were also part of the presentation. While potential tax revenue from a data center has been mentioned as a benefit, Leeper urged officials not to rely on projections or verbal assurances. Instead, he said any financial commitments should be clearly defined in legally binding agreements before any decisions are made.

“Show me the money,” he said, referencing the well-known phrase to underscore his point that promises alone are not enough.

Leeper also questioned whether the project could involve tax incentives or exemptions and how those might reduce any expected financial benefit to the community.

Ultimately, his message focused on timing. Once a project of this size is built, he said, it cannot be undone. That reality, he argued, makes it critical for officials and residents alike to fully understand the potential impacts before any approvals are granted.

County officials responded carefully, acknowledging that many of the same questions raised during public comment remain unanswered.

“This isn’t the time for a discussion,” Commissioner Rob Postal said. “It’s more comment. But I think we agree that there are a lot of unknowns, as you had stated. We don’t have any answers to those either. And our planning commission, if you haven’t seen it yet, put out a guidance document asking the same types of questions that you have presented.

“I understand Granville Township is also circulating a draft ordinance, which I’m sure that you should comment on because of some of the things that you brought up, I think, are addressed in that ordinance,” Postal added.

The commissioners noted that no formal proposal or developer has been confirmed publicly and emphasized that discussions are still in the early stages. Officials also pointed to efforts by the county planning commission, which has begun identifying key questions that would need to be addressed in any formal review process.

Finances

Commissioners approved the following new business items:

Decrease for the reconciliation change order for the Yeagertown Area Road Reconstruction Phase No. 1 by $9,326.20 to $332,355.80;

Paying $77,224.88 application for Yeagertown Area Road Reconstruction Phase No. 1 for Grannas Bros. Stone and Asphalt Co. from the Derry Township Community Development Block Grant from 2022-24;

Increase for the Juniata Terrace Water Main Community Development Block Grant for 2022 competitive Reconciliation Change Order No. 4 by $790.14 for a new contract price of $588,032.14;

Pay application for Juniata Terrace Water Main Community Development Block Grant for 2022 for $59.100.51 from Guyer Brothers.

Personnel matters

Commissioners approved the following personnel matters:

Hiring James Conway as veterans affairs officer, effective June 22;

Promoting Curtis Bailor and Alexia Berry from part-time to full-time corrections officers, effective June 21;

Hiring Tinesha Ardner as Children & Youth Caseworker I, effective June 29;

Appointing Lauryn Sechler for an internship in Children and Youth, effective Aug. 24, through Dec. 11.

Next meeting

The commissioners will meet at 9 a.m. on Thursday, July 2, at the Mifflin County Courthouse.