By Abigail Roberts
The Lincoln County Fiscal Court has approved the second reading of an ordinance relating to the location, operation and decommissioning of data centers this week.
The ordinance was recommended by the Lincoln County Planning and Zoning Commission. No changes or amendments were recommended and the ordinance was passed unanimously Tuesday morning.
Lincoln County Judge Executive Woods Adams said there are currently no active talks or proposals for data centers in Lincoln County. Adams said the P&Z Commission has met and discussed the data centers for several months before sending the ordinance for approval.
Adams and Fiscal Court magistrates said the aim of the ordinance is to protect the county and its residents and to be proactive rather than reactive.
The ordinance (the full text of which can be found below this article) addresses many requirements including setbacks, lighting, noise, water usage, waste heat and what type of land it can occupy.
“This is an ordinance that would put guardrails in place if one were to come and want to be a part of it. There is a pretty lengthy application period that goes over all the different parts of infrastructure,” Adams said.
Lincoln County Attorney Daryl Day said he does not believe the fiscal court can legally refuse a business, but they can put restrictions in place.
Some counties have chosen to implement temporary delays, such as moratoriums, but Day said Kentucky County Attorneys do not believe counties have the legal authority to ban a legal use of property.
“We can require them to jump through a whole lot of hoops, we can be stringent on it,” Day said. “To just come out and ban what is an otherwise legal use of property…if it’s that easy then we would only have things in Lincoln County that we all really want. If we said we don’t anymore of this, if we can ban data centers, why can’t we ban Dollar Stores…I don’t think we can. What we can do is we can make it difficult and we can protect the rest of the public.”
Day pointed to one specific part of the ordinance related to water usage, that requires a closed-loop system rather than a system that regularly uses fresh, treated water on a daily or weekly basis.
“I like the fact that we’re getting ahead of it,” Day said.
Doug Gooch with AGE said the ordinance makes sure that if a data center was proposed, it would have to be a smaller one and protections would be in place to make sure it does not cause harm. The ordinance would prevent any of the larger data center proposals, he said.
Day also said the ordinance requires zoning changes that would trigger public hearing requirements and allow the public to stay informed and speak on the matter.
Magistrate David Faulkner said the reason he supports the ordinance is because if they do not pass one, the county is left unprotected.
“If we do not, we’re not protected at all. If we do, it gives us some protection and that’s what Planning and Zoning does. It protects, it does not punish. That’s what it’s for and that’s what this will do. This will protect the citizens of Lincoln County. Without it, we have no protection,” Faulkner said.
Magistrate Bobby King said if and when the times comes to discuss a potential data center, the public needs to be informed and educated on the topic.
One person from the public commented during the meeting about the potential disruption to livestock, with Lincoln County being an agricultural area. She said she is concerned about the sound that could disrupt a cow’s milk supply or distress beef cattle.
Natalie Jackson, a Lincoln County resident, echoed the concerns about the impact a data center would have on livestock, wildlife and the water supply.
“There are going to be downfalls. It’s still going to be hazardous to the electrical field. Let’s say it doesn’t affect the water but you’re still going to have 10 other negative side effects,” Jackson said.
Day said the process would require public hearings where concerns could be voiced and adjustments could be made.
“All this is doing is putting the steps in place,” Adams said.
In other news, magistrates:
• approved the appointment of Dane Donaldson to the Board of Adjustments;
• approved the second reading of a zoning amendment for 8.461 acres located at Ky. Hwy. 39 and U.S. 150 to Light Industrial;
• approved the 2026 motor vehicle tax rate
• approved a 4-percent revenue increase of the 2026-27 property tax rate. This will change the tax rate from 9.0 cents per $100 of assessed value to 8.40 cents per $100 of value. The increase will require a public hearing before the next regular meeting, as well as a second reading of the tax rate. The 4-percent revenue rate will generate approximately $1,295,485.
Magistrate Joe Stanley said even though the rate is lowering, he believes the court should take the lower, compensating rate (8.10 cents per $100 of assessed value). His motion died for lack of a second.
Adams mentioned the county has lost $240,000 in state road funds.
• approved the state Flex Funds which will be used for the following projects: resurfacing Ky. Hwy. 1781, 1.879 miles from Ky. Hwy. 618 to Ky. Hwy. 643 (in the Broughtontown area); resurfacing Ky. Hwy. 698 from .106 miles west of Kidds Lane extending 3 miles to Ky. Hwy. 3249 (Skyline Drive). The county will receive $231,528 from the state for those projects.
• Magistrate Bobby King praised the Lincoln County Road Department and Foreman Jeremy Vanhook for their quick response to a flooding issue in the southern part of the county. King also reminded the public of the Pioneer Days festival Sept. 4 and 5;
• Magistrate Dan Gutenson thanked county employees and volunteers for their ongoing hard work;
• heard an update from LC Road Department Foreman Jeremy Vanhook on vehicles and road projects. Vanhook and Magistrate Joe Stanley discussed covering county road equipment that is currently sitting outside in the weather;
• heard from Shane New, Executive Director of the Stanford-Lincoln County Industrial Development Authority who, along with the fiscal court, applauded the recent expansion of Pittman Creek Wholesale, which will generate new jobs in the county. Pittman Creek Wholesale is North America’s leading independently owned fishing tackle distributor.
• LC Chamber Director Jenny Maloney announced that the annual Sept. 15 Chamber Banquet tickets are now on sale. Maloney said the downtown farmer’s market is doing well.
• heard an update from Lincoln County Public Library Director Jamie Helle. Helle said over the last year the library has increased the it’s presence in the community, which was a goal from last year. Helle said overall circulation is steady and online books have increased. The library reports 54,000 visitors for the year 2025-26. Helle said the summer reading program was a huge success this summer;
• Interim Stanford Mayor Jeremy Johnson praised the library’s commitment and involvement in the community;
• heard an update from Property Valuation Administrator Mary Adams who said the state has just finished her certification. Daryl Day said there was one appeal that was approved and is waiting for final approval from Frankfort. Adams said there were 51 appeal to the local board;
• County Attorney Daryl Day updated the fiscal court of opioid settlement funds which he said are being used to cover a gap in funding for the LC Family Resource Center, which lost funding from God’s Pantry;
• heard an update on historic sites from Jane Vanhook. Vanhook said the sites had a great crowd on Saturday. Vanhook said the county will receive a War of 1812 marker, that is set for Oct. 24. The Household Hazardous Waste event will be held on Oct. 31. The Wilderness Road Marathon will be held Sept. 20.
• heard from LC Republican Party leader Rocky Johnson who said the next meeting will be tonight, Aug. 11 at the LCPL and will feature keynote speakers Kevin and Tina Smith.
Read the full text of the data center ordinance below
