Thompson meets voters after Franklin mayoral debate canceled

FRANKLIN, Ky. (WNKY) — A planned debate between Franklin mayoral candidates Doug Thompson, Kelly Bush and Wendell Stewart was canceled Monday afternoon after Bush and Stewart did not participate, but Thompson still showed up and took questions from residents.

Thompson said Bush was with his wife after she was admitted to the hospital. He also said Stewart did not want to debate and that neither candidate wanted to reschedule. Thompson showed up Monday night anyway to answer questions from those who came.

Data centers come up early

Much of the discussion turned to data centers.

Thompson said he has spent months trying to get more information about the proposed development, including details about revenue, noise, water use and other possible impacts. He said he also contacted officials in Ohio and Tennessee to ask what their communities experienced after data centers moved in.

One of his biggest questions is how much money a project could actually bring in.

Thompson said OTN Group, which he described as the managing partner in TenKey Data Center, advertised the project as a possible $30 million annual revenue source.

“So I asked city government here, is that correct? Is it 30 million?” Thompson said. “Initially, I was told yes. I said, is that in writing? I was initially told yes. And then I was told, well, not yet, but it will be.”

Questions over the numbers

Thompson said he later spoke directly with the developers and was told the $30 million figure was an estimate.

He said developers instead put the figure at about $11 million, with 54% going to schools, 28% to the community and just under $1 million to the city. Thompson said that estimate did not include a 2.5% tangible tax on computers used inside the data center.

He acknowledged the revenue could be significant, but said that does not answer every question.

“That would put a lot of money into the city for improvements,” Thompson said. “But then you’ve got to ask yourself, at what cost.”

Thompson said he still wants more information in writing, along with clearer answers about electricity, water, noise and the effect a data center could have on nearby residents.