Frankfort Mayor Judy Sheets told WILO listeners and HoosierlandTV.com viewers Tuesday that a proposed data center project near Conagra is still in early discussion stages and cannot be approved or stopped by her office alone. She emphasized that any incentives or tax abatements for the development would require action by the seven-member Frankfort City Council after multiple board reviews and public input.
Mayor says project not a “done deal”
Sheets appeared on WILO’s “Party Line” program Tuesday Morning to address a written statement her office released this week about renewed contact from Data One, the developer tied to a large-scale data center proposal that has stirred controversy in Frankfort and Clinton County over the past year. She said the city recently heard from the company about several parcels near the existing Conagra facility, including roughly 115 acres already zoned industrial within city limits and two additional tracts of about 45 and 27 acres.
“The statement that we put out yesterday was to get out in front of what could possibly happen here in Frankfort,” Sheets said, stressing that no formal application has been filed. She told listeners that Data One “has not submitted anything or asked for any agreements, incentives, abatements, none of those things — this was in the talking stages only.”
The Frankfort City Council, not mayor, holds decision power
Throughout the program, Sheets pushed back on social media claims that she alone could greenlight or block the project. She explained that any request for tax abatements, payments in lieu of taxes (PILOTs) or similar incentives must go before the full City Council.
“I cannot stop this by myself, nor can I approve it by myself,” she said. “This is not under my job, it is a council decision…there’s seven members on there, the only time I might become involved in that is if there were a tie, then the mayor does break the tie.”
Before any council vote, the project would also have to clear several other bodies, she noted. A site plan or development proposal would be reviewed by the City Plan Commission and could require action from the Board of Zoning Appeals, the drainage board and the airport authority because of the site’s proximity to the Frankfort/Clinton County Regional Airport. “There is a process…whether it’s a data center or whether it’s another industry on the industrial park, whatever it is, there’s a process,” Sheets said.
Calls for studies and public involvement
A caller pressed the mayor on whether any approvals would be granted before the city has concrete information about the end user and the project’s impact on Frankfort. The caller also questioned whether the city’s 2026 budget relied too heavily on potential revenue from the data center.[clintoncountytoday +1]
Sheets said the city would first have to see detailed information about jobs, assessed value and incentives and added that legislators are still considering changes to Indiana’s Senate Bill 1, which affects local revenues. She acknowledged that “we do need the revenue to help us,” but said the city must weigh any benefits against what might be given up in abatements or other tax breaks.
She pledged that economic and environmental impact studies would be completed and shared publicly before any development moved forward. “I’ve asked them to provide us with the economic impact study, also with [an] environmental study, and told them that it needs to be out there, it needs to be public, so that our citizens understand exactly what’s going on,” Sheets said. “We have to have public involvement…whatever it takes, we have to have public involvement in that.”
Community division and social media criticism
The mayor also responded to online criticism suggesting she is ignoring citizen opposition or personally profiting from the proposal. “I am not getting my pockets lined. I’m not making one penny off of this at all,” she said. “Never did I intend for that to happen or was that ever anything that I would even consider.”
Sheets said she hears from residents on both sides of the issue and is trying to consider all perspectives. “When I hear these people that are against it, I’ve also got people in my ear saying they’re for it. This is going to be a benefit,” she said. “I’m still digging into what I need to know and what I think is going to be best for our community.”
She urged residents to stay engaged but not let the debate tear the city apart. “We have a great community, and the divisiveness is not good, and that’s not what our community is about,” Sheets said. “Don’t divide the community. Let’s come together and make this work.” (however this turns out).
The mayor noted that she regularly meets with citizens at events like “Muffins with the Mayor” and invited anyone with questions to call or visit her office. Clinton County Commissioners President Jordan Brewer is scheduled to appear on “Party Line” on Friday to discuss the county business, including the data center issue.
The following is the statement published Monday by Frankfort Mayor Judy Sheets:
As Mayor of the City of Frankfort, my responsibility is, and will always be, to place the long-term health, stability, and character of our community first.
There has been renewed interest by Data One in locating a data center within the city limits of Frankfort, specifically within the industrial park on land that is already appropriately zoned. While no commitments or agreements have been made, I understand that a proposal may eventually come before the City Plan Commission and City Council.
Given the history of this project and the concerns expressed throughout our community, I want to be very clear about my expectations moving forward.
First and foremost, any future conversations regarding this project must be conducted directly between the City of Frankfort and Data One, the end user representative of the facility. Transparent, consistent communication is essential to rebuilding trust and ensuring that elected officials, and the public, receive accurate, timely information.
Second, should Data One wish to move forward, community engagement will not be optional. I will be asking for publicly noticed town hall meetings, held at key points in the review process, to ensure residents have meaningful opportunities to ask questions, express concerns, and understand the full scope of the project before decisions are made.
Third, I will require that both an economic impact study and an environmental impact study be completed, published, and made publicly available. These studies must clearly outline anticipated job creation, workforce development opportunities, infrastructure demands, environmental considerations, and long-term operational impacts. Our community deserves facts and not assumptions when evaluating a project of this magnitude.
Finally, I believe that responsible development goes beyond property tax revenue alone. Any project moving forward must demonstrate a long-term commitment to investing in Frankfort. This includes contributions that strengthen community amenities, support quality-of-life initiatives, and reflect a genuine partnership with the people who live and work here.
I recognize that perspectives on this project may differ, including among members of City Council. While I do not hold a regular vote, I take seriously my role as Mayor, including my responsibility to act as a deciding voice when necessary. I will evaluate this proposal based on one standard only: what is truly in the best interest of the Frankfort community, both today and for generations to come.
I remain open to thoughtful, respectful dialogue, and I am committed to ensuring that any decision we make is guided by transparency, accountability, and care for the community we serve.
Respectfully,
Judith Sheets, Mayor
City of Frankfort