FORSYTH, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT)- As interest from major technology companies continues to grow in Monroe County, county leaders are weighing how data centers could affect land use, utilities, and transparency for residents. District 2 Commissioner Eddie Rowland released a detailed summary this week of a January 6th webinar hosted by the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, outlining what commissioners learned as they consider how to or if they should accommodate data center development locally. The discussion comes at a time when Monroe County has already taken steps to slow the process. Commissioners recently voted against a request from Google to sign a non-disclosure agreement tied to a planned facility. County officials said the NDA request raised concerns because Georgia’s Open Records Act requires counties to release public records allowed under state law, regardless of private agreements. That vote has drawn attention from residents and digital-privacy advocates who say the arrival of large technology companies can test how much information local governments are allowed or required to share with the public. Rowland said the ACCG webinar helped frame those concerns with
