County Approves Data Center Moratorium, Weed Control Plan for Summer

The Franklin County Board of Supervisors approved an ordinance authorizing a moratorium on new permit applications for development of data center projects within the unincorporated area of Franklin County during their March 31 meeting.

The supervisors voted to waive the first two readings of the ordinance to expedite the process of approving it.

There was no public comment from residents about the ordinance or the matter of data center projects in the area.

Supervisor Chris Vanness read the full ordinance for those in attendance, saying the moratorium would last for 18 months or until the passing of an ordinance in relation to data center development. The ordinance will be adopted upon publication in the April 8 edition of the Hampton Chronicle.

Franklin County Secondary Roads Engineer Jay Waddingham provided an update on his department during the meeting.

Franklin County Auditor Katy Flint requested approval for a few changes to the county’s general policies and procedures manual, including who has access to the secure election room, the number of USB/TMs (transport media drives) in their possession and the model of ipads for electronic pollbooks. Those changes were approved.

The supervisors approved a resolution for the county’s noxious weed control plan for the summer. The resolution states that “each owner and each person in the possession or control of any land shall cut, burn or otherwise destroy all weeds thereon, as defined in this chapter, as such times in each year and in such manner as shall prevent said weeds from blooming bearing seeds or coming to maturity, and shall keep said lands free of such growth of any other seeds as shall render the streets or highways adjoining said land unsafe for public travel.”

According to the resolution, the following weeds need to be cut by June 15 and as often as necessary after that to prevent seed production: marijuana plants, perennial pepper-grass, buckthorn Rhamnus (not including Rhamnus Frangula, sour dock perennial, sheep sorrel perennial, Canadian thistle, Russian knapweek, Buckhorn; Perennial, Wild Mustard Annual, European Morning Glory or Field Bindweed; Wild Carrot Biennial, also known as Queen Anne’s Lace; Poison Hemlock, Multiflora Rose, Common Ragweed; Wild Parsnip, Horse Nettle; Perennial Sow Thistle; Quack Grass; Butterprint Annual; Cocklebur; Bull Thistle; Wild Sunflower Annual; Teasel Biennial; Puncture Vine Annual; Shattercane Annual and all other species of Thistles belonging in genera of Cirsium and Carduus.

According to the resolution, it is also the responsibility of the property owners to destroy said weeds in Franklin County Secondary Road ditches.

The supervisors also approved a memorandum of understanding between the county and Central Iowa Community Services (CICS) for employment of Kaitlyn Hoeft.

The supervisors set their Fiscal Year 2027 budget public hearing for April 14 at 10 a.m.