The Burgin City Council ended a special meeting on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, without a vote after losing its quorum when one council member left the proceedings. The council had been scheduled to vote on whether to direct the city attorney to draft an ordinance to annex land for a proposed hyperscale data center. Council member Melinda Wofford walked out of the meeting, which was held at the city’s fire department, preventing the body from conducting further business.
The move followed months of local discussion regarding a proposal by developer Panattoni Data Centers to build a facility north of the city. The project would require a significant power supply and has faced scrutiny from residents concerned about its environmental and local impacts. The meeting on Tuesday was the second time the city of approximately 1,000 residents had considered annexing the site for the developer.
During the public comment portion of the meeting, resident Zoé Strecker described the data center industry as "extractive" and raised concerns about noise and air quality. Conversely, Brock Tomlinson, a senior vice president for Panattoni Data Centers, told the council that the project could generate tens of millions of dollars in local tax revenue. Tomlinson stated the company agreed with an executive order from Gov. Andy Beshear (D) intended to ensure Kentucky residents do not bear the costs of such developments.
The loss of a quorum occurred because Wofford walked out, council member Kevin Wallace was absent, and council member Travis Irvine recused himself. Irvine, an employee of the local school district, cited a potential conflict of interest. The Burgin Independent School district, which serves about 500 students, has expressed support for the project due to the potential for increased tax revenue. Mayor Joe Monroe stated after the meeting that he respected Wofford’s and Irvine’s decisions, but noted he believed it was a mistake for the city to annex property without planning and zoning regulations.
Earlier on Tuesday, the council gave initial approval to join a joint planning and zoning commission with Mercer County and Harrodsburg, with Wofford stating she would not support annexation until such rules are in place. Additionally, the Mercer County Fiscal Court gave a first reading to new data center regulations on September 8, 2026. A second reading of those county-level regulations will be held at a future date in a larger venue to accommodate public attendance. Because Burgin currently lacks planning and zoning regulations, it is not subject to a temporary pause on data center construction recently passed by the Mercer County Fiscal Court. Mayor Monroe argues joining the commission is necessary to maintain control over how annexed land is used.