Film and data center regulations were discussed at the Morgan County Board of Commissioners meeting on July 7, leading to policy changes and a temporary moratorium.
Early in the meeting, the board approved updates to the Morgan County Film and Video Policy, as discussed in the prior meeting. According to the agenda report, the film policy was last updated in 2019, and was “reviewed due to increased production activity, identified gaps in policy, and standard practices in the region.”
Among the policy changes was a $100 increase in the standard film permit application fee, bringing the new application fee to $200. Additionally, applications submitted less than five business days before filming will be priced at $400.
The policy would also require production companies to increase insurance coverage, notify any affected businesses and residents before filming, and comply with additional review requirements for activities involving road closures, pyrotechnics, drones, firearms, or temporary structures.
With approval, Morgan County will also require security deposits or bonds and will have greater authority to deny permits to applicants with outstanding obligations or prior damage to county property.
The commissioners later discussed placing a temporary moratorium on data centers in the county.
According to the Planning and Zoning Department’s agenda request, the discussion was needed to “allow for specific regulations to be drafted.” The request also noted that the Planning and Zoning Department has received several inquiries about data centers, but does not currently have any specific regulations in place for them.
“As you all know, data centers are the hot topic in the state of Georgia at the moment. A lot of jurisdictions are implementing moratoriums to get their ordinances in order,” said Chuck Jarrell, Morgan County’s planning and zoning director. “We do have a data center in our ordinance, but there are no absolute regulations. And it was based on the total of small data centers, which are basically call centers, which is what ours was designed for.”
Jarrell said that P&Z has received two inquiries about data centers, one on Old Mill Road and one on Fears Road in Rutledge. He noted to the commissioners that he submitted a request for the moratorium last week and later that evening received the application for Fears Road to “amend the comprehensive plan.”
“They’re wanting to move forward, so I immediately contacted them and told them about what we are doing in this meeting today,” Jarrell said. “We have a meeting with them next week, but I feel like we must have true regulations in place to guide and direct, to protect the citizens of Morgan County from possible impacts that data centers could make.”
Jarrell said the applicants inquired about slightly over 100 acres of land to use for the implementation of the proposed data center. He informed the commissioners that the center would include three buildings and considered the proposal “along the lines of a large site.”
“When we talked with them before, [the data center was supposed to bring] $25 million to the county and around $30 million to the school board each year,” Jarrell said.
The Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a 120-day moratorium on data centers.
The commissioners met again on July 9 for their first public hearing to discuss setting the 2026 millage rate. Two more public hearings will follow on July 21, with one at 10 a.m. and the other at 4:30 p.m.