Debbie Roney Smith

As a long-term community member, I am concerned about the effects an AI Data Center will have on our local ecosystems and community ambiance. We live here in the Panhandle for a quieter, rural life.

We do not want to compete for basic needs like water and electricity against an unwanted data center. And we definitley don't want to see our local wildlife and ecosystems affected by light pollution, noise pollution, and water contamination.

If you too are concerened, I encourage you to come out to the Jackson County Commissioners Meeting TODAY at 6PM at the Ernie Padgett Board Room. The meeting will also be on Zoom (link in the public meeting notice posted on our website and socials).

Or watch the livestream on YouTube: https://youtube.com/

Or sign the petition calling for a ten-year moratorium on data center development in Jackson County: https://c.org/WzcnZHcCdM

Jackson County has joined the Burn Ban list as of 4/28/26 🔥

🚫 Prohibited:
All outdoor burning, including yard debris, bonfires, campfires, warming fires, outdoor fireplaces, and the use of items that create sparks (like fireworks), is not allowed.

👍 Allowed:
Cooking with a contained gas or charcoal grill
Approved burns by the Florida Forest
Firefighter training exercises

Stay safe --- don't burn!

Did you know that most counties in the Panhandle are currently under a burn ban?

Burn bans are not to be taken lightly; they are essential measures in the chain that helps protect our environment, homes, and lives from out-of-control fires. A burn ban is exactly what is sounds like -- a ban on burning i.e. fires, bonfires, burn barrels, et cetera. But why are they so essential to follow?

1. Burn bans help protecting woodlands, wildlife, and every life that relies on the health of the forest ecosystem. When a fire gets out of control, it can destroy acres of woodland, harm plants and animals beyond recovery, and even toward endangerment. Wildfires have been growing in size, duration, and destructivity over the past 20 years. Burn bans help drastically reduce the number of wildfires in a season.

2. Burn bans help shield communities and personal property. Fires can easily spread from a forest or single home to the wider community; homes, businesses, and lives can be lost. Burn bans reduce the likelihood of fires starting in the first place.

3. Burn bans help maintain good air quality and support public health. Fires release large amounts of smoke filled with carcinogens and other harmful particulates -- depending on what's burning. Prolonged exposure to this smoke can lead to respiratory issues, heart problems, and other long-term health risks like asthma and heart failure. Burn bans prevent fire, thereby keeping the air cleaner and protecting all members of the community.

Keep track of ongoing burn bans by visiting the Florida Forest Service burn ban map --> herehttps://www.arcgis.com/apps/dashboards/1f6572c92f8d41ec860f461ea433819b