On the agenda: Woodford County meeting — Data Center (Aug 10)

CONSERVATION, PLANNING, AND ZONING COMMITTEE
WOODFORD COUNTY, ILLINOIS
Monday August 10", 2026
4:30 P.M.
AGENDA
1. Call to Order:
2. Roll Call: Zach Ferris, Blake Parsons, Tim Wilcoxen, Nathan Schertz
3. Approval of Monthly claims
4. Approval of July 13", 2026, minutes
5. Review of any Executive Session: None
6. Public Input:
7. Unfinished Business:
a. Data Center moratorium
8. New Business:
a. Discussion on permit fees
9. Planning and Zoning Issues:
10. Executive session (if necessary)

11. Any action coming out of Executive Session

12. Adjournment

CONSERVATION, PLANNING, AND ZONING COMMITTEE
WOODFORD COUNTY, ILLINOIS
Monday July 13, 2026
4:30 P.M.
MINUTES
1, Call to Order:
Vice Chairman Ferris called the meeting to order at 4:34 P.M.

2. Roll Call: Blake Parsons, Tim Wilcoxen, and Zach Ferris were present. Nick Miller resigned from the County
Board on Friday July 10, 2026. Nathan Schertz was absent.

3. Approval of Monthly claims: Motion to approve made by Wilcoxen, seconded by Ferris. Motion pasved.
4. Approval of June 8", 2026 minutes: Motion to approve made by Parsons, seconded by Wilcoxen. Motion passed.
5. Review of any Executive Session: None

6. Public Input: Jane Debolt requested rules be changed to not pay for building permits already paid for due to
building loss from the recent tornado. They lost a 90 by 42 foot pole building, it was built in 2022. They plan to
rebuild and add square footage. She explained her dealings with their insurance recently and the cleaning up
process. Her request is she hopes the county can see not double charging for a permit is the right thing to do
since it’s already been permitted once. She doesn’t think its fair to be charged again.

7. Unfinished Business:
a. Data Center moratorium
Parsons mentioned a possible extension be noted at the end of the draft. The extension of the
moratorium was discussed. Ferris stated the moratorium is compiled of other county’s
moratoriums. Wilcoxen mentioned a check point on the calendar to do a progress check to see
if we need to do an extension. The process of how the moratorium will be placed on file was
discussed.
8. New Business:
a. Election of Chairman
Motion made by Patsons to open the floor for nominations of Chairman, seconded by Ferris.
Parsons nominated Zach Ferris. Parsons moves to close nominations. Motion to elect Zach
Ferris as Chairman. Motion passed.
b. Election of Vice Chairman
Fertis made motion to open for nominations of Vice Chairman., motion passed. Ferris nominates
Blake Parsons as Vice Chairman. Parsons moves to close nominations, motion passed. Motion to
elect Blake Parsons as Vice Chaitman, motion passed.
9. Planning and Zoning Issues:

10. Executive session (if necessary)
11. Any action coming out of Executive Session:

12. Adjournment
Motion made to adjourn at 5:05 P.M. made by Wilcoxen, seconded by Parsons. Motion passed.

Zach Ferris, Chairman
Conservation Planning & Zoning Committee

STATE OF ILLINOIS WOODFORD COUNTY BOARD

COUNTY OF WOODFORD

2026 ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING A SIX MONTH MORATORIUM ON DATA CENTER
APPLICATIONS FOR DEVELOPMENT IN WOODFORD COUNTY

WHEREAS Woodford County, Illinois has been granted authority to regulate and restrict
location and use of structures pursuant to 55 ILCS 5/5-12001 ET. Seq. and to amend its' zoning
regulations pursuant to 55 ILCS 5/5-12014, and Woodford County Zoning Ordinance Chapter 154 of
the county code; and

WHEREAS, the Woodford County Board is aware of the desire to develop Data Centers of varying
sizes and capacities throughout the State of Illinois; and

WHEREAS, a Data Center is a centralized repository for the storage, management, processing,
conversion, and/or dissemination of data and information, housing for equipment including computers,
servers, data storage devices, data processing centers, and server farms, and any buildings or facilities
in support of a data center project such as cooling systems, energy systems, fuel systems, and
supporting infrastructure; and

WHEREAS, the Woodford County Board is aware of the extensive concerns of the residents and
taxpayers of Woodford County in regards to the development of the infrastructure and operation of
Data Centers; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to 55 ILCS 5/5-12001, the Woodford County Board has an interest in
protecting the health, safety and general welfare of the residents of Woodford County, as well as an
interest in protecting the County's infrastructure natural resources and properties and their values; and

WHEREAS, the Woodford County Zoning Ordinance does not currently have a dedicated
section in the county zoning code addressing the definition, siting, regulation, and potential hazards of
data centers, nor does it currently allow a data center as a permitted use or special use in any zoning
district; and

WHEREAS, 55 ILCS 5/5-12016 provides that counties may cooperate with other counties,
municipalities, or the State of Illinois on zoning matters and may appoint a committee or committees
for such purpose; and

WHEREAS, the Woodford County Board, Woodford County Zoning Board of Appeals, Zoning
Administration, Supervisor of Assessments, and the States Attorney will require substantial time to hold
public hearings, gather information, and coordinate with multiple agencies for the purpose of reviewing
& creating a comprehensive Data Center Ordinance; and

WHEREAS, the Woodford County Board wishes to place a temporary, six (6) month moratorium
on special use permit and building permit applications for Data Centers

STATE OF ILLINOIS WOODFORD COUNTY BOARD

COUNTY OF WOODFORD

NOW THEREFORE, IT IS ORDAINED AND ORDERED, by the Woodford County Board following
review, consideration, and discussion, that a temporary moratorium on accepting special use permit and
building permit applications for Data Centers be utilized to allow County Officials the time to further study
the concerns expressed by residents & taxpayers, and develop comprehensive rules and regulations for
the development of Data Centers said moratorium will be in full effect upon the passage of this Ordinance,
with an expiration date of February 16", 2027 at II:59pm CST.

BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED AND ORDERED, it is the Woodford County Board's desire to instruct
the Woodford County Zoning Board of Appeals and applicable County Officials to research, consult,
review, develop and draft a comprehensive Woodford County Data Center Ordinance, hold any
required public hearings, and present a final draft of the Ordinance by the February 16", 2027
Woodford County Board Meeting when the moratorium will expire on February 16", 2027 at Il :59pm
CST, unless ended earlier by a Woodford County Board Ordinance or extended prior to February 16",
2027, by a Woodford County Board Ordinance.

ORDAINED this 18" of August A.D. 2026.

X

Chuck Nagel
Woodford County Board Chairman

X

Dawn Kupfer
County Clerk of the Woodford County Board