Watch the Council Votes
McCormick First’s recording of the votes during the September 10 Council meeting. Added September 12, 2026.
The approximately 15-minute recording is presented in three consecutive parts. Watch them in order; the original picture and audio are preserved, with no footage removed.
Part 1 of 3
Part 2 of 3
Part 3 of 3
McCormick County Council considered several measures related to data-center development and pending rezonings during its September 10 meeting at the W.S. Mims Activity Center.
The meeting drew substantial public participation. Approximately 29 residents spoke during public comment, with additional speakers participating during the public hearing. Speakers expressed a range of concerns about the proposed data-center development, with those addressing the issue overwhelmingly calling for either a temporary pause or opposition to data-center development altogether.
McCormick First spoke first on the published agenda and asked Council to pause project-enabling land-use decisions while the County completes its proposed Data Center and Emerging Technology Ordinance and establishes the standards and information necessary to evaluate a future project.
Moratorium Fails 3–2
The proposed data-center moratorium did not advance.
Voting in favor of the moratorium: Jackie Brown and David Morrah III.
Voting against the moratorium: Chuck Cook, Charles Jennings and Chairman Bernie Hamby.
The vote was 3–2 against the moratorium.
Rezoning Votes
Council also considered the pending rezoning measures. The votes followed the same 3–2 division, with Brown and Morrah voting against moving the rezonings forward and Cook, Jennings and Hamby voting in favor.
McCormick First had asked Council not to advance the Pollard-related rezoning while the County’s data-center standards remain under development.
Data Center Ordinance Advances Unanimously
Council unanimously approved the first reading by title only of Ordinance 26-06, the proposed Data Center and Emerging Technology Ordinance.
The draft ordinance under consideration contains provisions addressing issues including water use, power generation, natural gas, noise, environmental protection, setbacks and buffers, infrastructure costs, emergency services, technical studies, monitoring and continuing compliance.
Because the September 10 action was a first reading by title only, McCormick First will continue monitoring the ordinance as it proceeds through the legislative process and will review any revised language that becomes publicly available.
Council Discusses Reason for Moving Rezoning Forward
During the meeting, Councilman Chuck Cook discussed the reasoning for continuing the rezoning process while the Data Center Ordinance is being developed. His comments indicated that moving the zoning forward would provide the County a path to receive a formal proposal and negotiate from that point.
The discussion generated strong reactions from most members of the audience.
McCormick First believes this remains one of the central questions in the current debate: whether the County should first complete its data-center standards and then evaluate a proposal, or advance the zoning so that a proposal can be received and evaluated while that process continues.
Significant Public Participation
Public participation was extensive. Approximately 29 people spoke during the general public-comment portion of the meeting, with roughly 10 additional speakers participating during the public hearing.
The overwhelming message from speakers addressing data-center development was a request for some form of pause, with a number of residents advocating against data-center development altogether.
One speaker attempted to present a perspective supportive of moving forward with data-center development but faced repeated interruptions from members of the audience.
McCormick First believes residents should be able to express differing positions respectfully. Community participation is strongest when people can speak, listen, ask questions and disagree without preventing others from being heard.
What Happens Next
The meeting adjourned without entering executive session.
McCormick First expects next week’s County Council agenda may include:
- Second reading of Ordinance 26-06, the Data Center and Emerging Technology Ordinance; and
- Second reading of the remaining rezoning measure.
Those items are anticipated rather than confirmed until the County publishes the official agenda.
McCormick First will review the agenda and any updated ordinance language when they become available and will provide additional information before the next Council meeting.