JERSEYVILLE – Jersey County residents protested plans to build a data center south of Jerseyville after speaking out at a recent County Board meeting.
Get The Latest News!
Don't miss our top stories and need-to-know news everyday in your inbox.
Over a dozen passionate community members gathered along State Street near the intersection of Highways 67 and 109 in Jerseyville on Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026. By 4:30 p.m., the group had grown to about 15 people who were met with several supportive honks from drivers passing by.
Grafton resident Paula Jameson said her research shows a data center would offer no benefit to Jersey County residents.
“I’m opposed because it takes from our community and does nothing to give back,” Jameson said. “It does not supply any jobs ... the most we can make out of taxes on this, from my research, was $1,600 a year.”
Dehli resident Toy Glynn agreed, emphasizing concerns of possible strain on local resources.
“I don’t think that small rural communities should pay for the data usage of large urban areas,” Glynn said. “I don’t think they should steal our water and our clean air, and we also don’t profit from it at all.”
The proposed data center site sits within a 900-acre area which has long been rumored to be the site of future development, though several projects that have been proposed over the years – including a large-scale rail hub – have yet to materialize. Jameson said the area’s first project being a data center would be a “slap in the face.”
“Jerseyville is beautiful, always has been,” Jameson said. “We are home to agriculture and tourism, and a data center being the very first thing for us to choose to break ground on that amazing industrial complex that was supposed to bring jobs in? I think it’s a slap in the face to our residents and it’s insulting on behalf of our leadership.”
Jameson, who spoke at the Oct. 13, 2026, Jersey County Board meeting on the topic of data centers, said that while the majority of board members were listening respectfully, the same could not be said of a few officials.
“While we have several on the board who gave us their utmost time, respect and their attention, I was so disheartened to see respect was not unanimous across the board,” she said. “They didn’t take us seriously, they dismissed us … so Jersey County needs change.”
Jameson said any County Board member running for re-election who is strongly opposed to the data center proposal should make their stance known to the public or face replacement.
“Anybody that’s on the ballot that’s against it, you better speak up because if you’re not speaking up, your days on that board are numbered and we’re coming for your seats,” Jameson said. “That is across all sides, that is not a partisan statement.”
Glynn agreed, adding: “This isn’t a partisan issue. This is a community quality of life issue … if that is the way they want to treat my concerns, I will be more than happy to work to have them removed from office through the electoral process. But I would much rather have a round-table discussion and work cooperatively for the betterment of my community.”
Also at issue is Jersey County’s current lack of zoning laws, which county officials have claimed would be costly to implement. Some county residents who live in the country have spoken against regulations on land use, but Jameson said a common-sense approach is possible.
“I live in the country too. I love having an unzoned community. You can put in safeguards, policies and procedures without zoning your county to oblivion,” Jameson said. “The fact our leadership is trying to sell it to us as though we’re going to lose all of our rights, it’s unfair and it’s showing they’re clearly not willing to find a solution that maintains our rights while protecting all of us at the same time.”
Glynn added there must be some sort of “happy medium” for those for and against zoning to agree on to protect the county from the negative impacts of data centers.
“Property owners should be allowed, within reason, to do what they want on their own property without making other people in their near vicinity miserable and unhealthy,” Glynn said.
Jameson urged Jersey County residents to educate themselves on data centers and County Board proceedings, while Glynn said passionate community members may start attending board meetings more often.
“I was terrified to speak out because I didn't know if I was going to rock a boat,” Jameson said. “But I was astounded and heartwarmed to see that people actually do care, and the community is behind stopping this.”
