HUBBARD — City officials moved forward with action to quell residents’ concerns about a potential data center, placing a suspension on any action that would allow one to enter the community.

Officials at Monday’s regular council meeting approved a 12-month moratorium on the construction, placement or operation of a data center within the city, and declared an emergency.

Councilwoman Robin Zambrini, D-2nd Ward, who requested that Law Director Mark Villano draw up the necessary legislation for it at a May 18 meeting, said officials normally do three readings on most matters to allow everyone time to review resolutions.

She said in some instances, however, the second and third readings are suspended to push them through.

“Typically though, we don’t like to do this because we like to give the community time to mull things over — but this is a different situation here,” Zambrini said.

Mayor Ben Kyle reiterated during his report that the city has received no proposals regarding Project Milo, an economic development project alongside JobsOhio, a partner of Lake to River Economic Development, which he first mentioned in a February 2025 meeting.

The discussion involves an unidentified company exploring a project that promises “significant economic impact and benefit” for the city.

Kyle confirmed last month that he signed an NDA in December 2024 for the project, with the intent of allowing the city to gather the “technical and utility” information necessary to see whether the city could accommodate something of that scale.

Kyle said his duty as the mayor is to be unbiased in economic development conversations by collecting information to bring to the city’s planning and zoning commission, then to council for their consideration.

“If that is something that is needed, that is exactly what has happened during this whole entire process,” Kyle said. “The only way the business in question would agree to give us the necessary information that we needed in order to evaluate the logistical needs from our water and electric departments was to be able to sign that NDA.”

Kyle said Villano allowed him to sign the NDA, so the city could get that information, adding that council was also informed and noting many instances, such as an email to officials Jan. 16, 2025, and a Feb. 3, 2025, caucus meeting, where a discussion took place about an economic development project.

Kyle named four or more instances of reference to Project Milo in email or public meetings.

“That being said, obviously, no proposal has ever come forth by a company or by Lake to River or by the regional chamber or anybody else. It’s been a lot of noise,” Kyle said. “I just want to make it clear that I understand there’s a need for economic development, and there’s a process.

“That’s why we have zoning in place. That’s why we revamp the zoning book, and we’ve put a lot of the aspects in zoning to help protect residential areas.”

Kyle said he personally didn’t support a data center entering the city.

PUBLIC COMMENT

Resident Peter Agers also named instances of Project Milo being named at past meetings.

Agers said Kyle referred to it as a “light industrial mixed-use technology project” that he would keep residents updated on, noting that a data center or NDA was never mentioned.

Sarah Lee, another resident, asked how much time Kyle was given to sign the NDA upon finding out about it, to which he said “weeks.”

“You had weeks to find out. You could have contacted The Ohio State University — they have a Department of Agriculture in every single county in Ohio. I did this in 10 seconds,” Lee said. “When did we first start hearing about the negative environmental impact of data centers? 2019, we started hearing more in the mainstream, information coming out about the negative impacts of data centers.”

Resident Maria Castner said residents would be in the know if they came to council meetings on a regular basis, pointing out several people who have consistently been to meetings.

“I’ve been here for a year-and-a-half every week, except for maybe two. So don’t come in and yell at the mayor because you don’t know what’s going on,” Castner said.

Castner said residents should come and be informed at the meeting and gather afterward, not after a “witch hunt” or rumors about Deer Creek Golf Course closing.