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Data Centers, Battery Storage Dominate Public Comment at Reno County Commission Meeting
Concerns about proposed data centers and battery energy storage systems dominated public comment during Wednesday's Reno County Commission meeting, as residents urged commissioners to enact a moratorium while county leaders emphasized that no applications have been filed in unincorporated Reno County and pledged to continue studying the issue.
Seven residents addressed commissioners during the public comment period, raising concerns about water usage, noise, property values, public health, fire risks and transparency related to potential future projects.
The discussion came ahead of a scheduled commission study session later in the day focused in part on data centers and battery energy storage systems.
Susie Ratzlaff
Petition Delivered Seeking Moratorium
Buhler-area resident Susie Ratzlaff presented commissioners with petitions containing 875 signatures from Reno County residents and landowners requesting a moratorium on battery energy storage systems (BESS) and data centers until additional research can be completed.
"The signatures on these petitions represent a wide range of people," Ratzlaff told commissioners.
Ratzlaff cited concerns about water consumption, noise, air quality, battery fires and impacts on the Equus Beds Aquifer. She urged commissioners to provide direction to the Planning Commission so additional study could begin.
"We ask that you would be proactive," she said.
Several other residents echoed similar concerns.
Vicki Jackson
Vicki Jackson questioned whether data centers would create local jobs, asked who would operate the facilities and raised concerns about water supplies, electrical infrastructure and tax incentives.
"Are you listening to the people?" Jackson asked commissioners. "You were elected by us." 
Erin Hodgson
Erin Hodgson urged commissioners to follow neighboring communities that have adopted moratoriums.
"A moratorium is an extremely reasonable step that allows for due diligence on the issue," Hodgson said.
Gary Witt
Linda Witt
Gary Witt of Buhler said he opposes both battery energy storage systems and data centers, citing concerns about protecting family farmland and property values. He urged commissioners to learn from communities that have already experienced similar projects and said he supports at least a moratorium, if not a complete ban.
Linda Witt, who said she has lived in Buhler for nearly 47 years, told commissioners that many residents are praying about the issue and asking county leaders to carefully consider public concerns. She urged commissioners to remain transparent and "listen to the people that you represent."
Other speakers raised concerns about property values, battery fire risks, water consumption, air quality and long-term environmental impacts.
Dawn Varney
Retired physician Dr. Dawn Varney urged commissioners to reject future data center proposals, citing concerns about heavy water consumption, wastewater contamination, increased energy demands, noise and air pollution, impacts on wildlife, road damage from construction traffic, light pollution and what he described as limited long-term economic benefits. Varney also questioned whether local residents would ultimately benefit from permanent jobs created by the facilities and warned about potential public health effects associated with data center operations.
Erin Baker
Erin Baker of Buhler questioned how the county can warn residents about the fire risks posed by small lithium batteries at the landfill while considering large-scale battery storage facilities containing millions of batteries. She also raised concerns about fire safety and cybersecurity and called for a moratorium on both battery storage systems and data centers.
Commissioners Respond to Public Concerns
Commissioner Ron Vincent, right.
Commissioner Randy Parks, second in from right. 
Commissioners Don Bogner, left.
Following public comment, commissioners responded directly to many of the concerns raised.
Commissioner Ron Vincent, whose district includes the area where a proposed battery storage project has generated public discussion, said he has met with residents and continues to research the issue.
"Our first step is your people's health and well-being," Vincent said. "That will always be taken into consideration before anything else."
Vincent acknowledged that obtaining objective information can be challenging because available information often comes either from project developers or organized opposition groups.
"There are no long-term studies on these out there yet," he said.
Commissioner Randy Parks addressed questions about transparency and his position on the issue.
"I personally am not trying to hide anything on this issue at all," Parks said.
Parks said he has heard concerns from residents throughout the county and indicated he currently has significant reservations about supporting such projects.
"I will stand with the position of the majority of the people in this county every time," Parks said.
While discussing potential regulatory options, Parks suggested he would favor stronger action than a temporary moratorium.
"If we're going to do it, it would be for me probably a ban," he said, while also encouraging the Planning Commission to continue researching the issue.
Commissioner Don Bogner said commissioners have been actively researching the topic and attending educational sessions.
"There isn't one of us commissioners up here who has failed not to study and research this," Bogner said.
Bogner also explained that while nondisclosure agreements are sometimes used in economic development discussions, they can allow officials to gather information before projects become public.
"You asked for transparency. You got it this morning," he said.
Commission Chair Ron Hirst said commissioners plan to continue discussing the topic during future study sessions.
Megan Gottschalk, left, and Karen Hammersmith
Reno County Commissioners Don Bogner, left, Ron Hirst, Randy Parks and Ron Vincent. Richard Winger was not in attendance.
Health Department Highlights Prevention Efforts
Earlier in the meeting, Reno County Health Department officials Megan Gottschalk, Assistant Director for Community Health and Karen Hammersmith, Assistant Director for Clinical Services, presented the Health Department's annual report, emphasizing the economic and community benefits of preventive health services.
Gottschalk used seat belts as an example of how prevention can save lives without drawing much attention. Just as years of research and public education made seat belt use commonplace, she said public health programs use data to identify risks early, prevent illness and reduce future costs for residents and taxpayers.
"Public health works that way every single day," Gottschalk said.
Health Department officials highlighted several accomplishments from the past year:
- More than 500 residents received foot care, home assistance and other supportive services.
- More than 4,000 vaccinations were administered.
- More than 1,000 families received WIC services.
- Community health programs focused on improving long-term health outcomes while reducing future costs.
Officials also previewed upcoming work on the Community Health Assessment and Community Health Improvement Plan. According to survey results, residents identified substance misuse, access to care, transportation and mental health as top community concerns.
"In many ways, public health could be one of the county's best investments in prevention," Gottschalk said.
Administrator Randy Partington
Tornado Shelter Proposal to Return Later
Commissioners also discussed a request involving St. Joseph Catholic Church's effort to obtain grant funding for a community tornado shelter in southeast Reno County.
County Administrator Randy Partington explained that what originally appeared to be a request for a letter of support evolved into a possible partnership request connected to a FEMA Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) grant application.
Commissioners learned the church may need a governmental partner to submit the application, though no county funding would be required.
Commissioners took no action Wednesday but indicated the proposal will return at a future meeting once additional details are available.
Commissioner Bogner said the shelter could provide a significant public benefit because the area has experienced growth and lacks convenient public shelter options.
"You can't move school kids two and a half miles," Bogner said while discussing the nearest existing public shelter.
County officials said they will review the grant application and any potential legal implications before bringing the proposal back for formal consideration.
Other Business
Commissioners unanimously approved publication of a notice for a June 24 public hearing regarding the proposed issuance of taxable industrial revenue bonds associated with the Salt Lick golf course project.
The commission also received monthly departmental reports and announced upcoming budget work sessions that will continue throughout June.
***The next Reno County Commission meeting will not be on a regular Wednesday schedule, but will be on Tuesday, June 9, 2026 at 9 am in the Veterans Room at the Reno County Courthouse, 206 W. First Avenue. At 11 am, following the regular meeting, the commission will hold a Budget Study Session.
To view agendas of current and past meetings, go to https://www.renocountyks.gov/agendas. To view past meetings, go to our Reno County YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/@RenoCounty/streams