SUNBURY — Data centers weren’t on Sunbury City Council’s agenda Wednesday night, yet the tech-development tension was thick in Big Walnut High School’s auditorium.
More than two dozen residents once again opposed a possible Amazon data center in the city during public comment, following other tense council and planning and zoning meetings in recent weeks.
From environmental concerns to transparency in city government, speakers urged council to go beyond its recently-approved moratorium and stop the project altogether.
Council approved a data center moratorium during its April 15 meeting, halting “the advancement of any data center activity in the city,” Mayor Joe St. John said at the time.
Yet, the public’s message was clear: The moratorium isn’t enough.
In addition to stopping the data center project, public comments admonished city council for not being more transparent about what’s happening with all facets of the project, if it isn’t ending.
In light of the public’s concerns, Councilman Damin Cappel proposed tabling four items scheduled for third readings — two resolutions and two ordinances — drawing applause from the audience.
“I know that this is not targeted towards data center development, but I think giving a little bit of extra time for people to reach out to us and answer questions [would be good],” Cappel said.
Council tabled the following third reading resolutions and ordinances:
- Resolution No. 2026.08: This resolution would establish a capital projects fund for future roadway improvements near the Kinter Crossing commercial development site.
- Resolution No. 2026.11: This resolution would approve “geographic information systems (GIS) administration and support services with Mapped Out,” the city’s agenda states.
- Ordinance No. 2026.08: This ordinance would approve the final plat for Kintner Crossing Section 2.
- Ordinance No. 2026.09: Council would have awarded Dirt Dawg Excavating LLC. the contract for the Little Walnut Creek Interceptor Phase 2A with this ordinance.
The items will be discussed again during the city’s Services Committee meeting on May 6 at 6:30 p.m., ahead of a council vote scheduled for 7:30 p.m. the same evening.
Other news from council
Smokin’ Hot Wing and Music Fest has a new home for its Oct. 3 shindig.
The event is relocating from Grove City to Sunbury for its fourth-annual festival, following a council motion that allows the event to take place past 9 p.m. at Freedom Park.
Gillian Banten from Big Walnut Friends Who Share told council the festival was generated as a way to thank veterans, all of whom enter for free.
“There’s usually about 20 wing contestant entries,” she said. “One thing that is nice about this is that most of the contestants are just smoking wings, not deep frying, so there’s less liability of a fire.”
She added about 5,000 people attended the event in previous years, and four bands will perform throughout the festival this year.
“Outside of wings, they do have a taco truck, ice cream truck, lemonade truck and a burger-fry truck,” she added.
