Columbus mayoral runoff candidate speaks about proposed data center in new video

A new video shows Columbus Councilor Joanne Cogle, a candidate in the mayoral runoff election, sharing her concerns about the controversial proposal for a hyperscale data center to be built in northeast Muscogee County.

The video, running 1 minute and 15 seconds, was posted Tuesday on the Joanne Cogle for Mayor Facebook page.

In the video, Cogle, the District 7 representative on the 10-member city council, takes a stance on enforcing the rules for the proposed data center, called Project Ruby, ahead of the council’s expected vote on the recommended technology overlay district ordinance that would allow the project to take the next step.

She calls data centers a hot topic for a “long time” and says she finally has “started formulating concerns” after going through emails and messages from constituents.

Also in the video, Cogle criticizes the way in which the data center issue has been presented, leaving citizens to find their own information.

As a cancer survivor and a health and wellness professional, Cogle says, she has concerns about health effects from data centers.

In the video, Cogle criticizes what she calls a consistent lack of enforcement in Columbus, including a 2024 issue about the tree ordinance during the Judicial Center construction.

“Look at our railroad, living conditions at The Ralston, and the tree ordinance here at the Judicial Center,” she says in the video as she walks by the Judicial Center. “If we can’t enforce our small local ordinances, how are we going to enforce an overlay of this magnitude against a $1 billion company?”

This is a more specific criticism of the proposed data center than what Cogle expressed back in February during an interview with the Ledger-Enquirer. Not giving a direct “yes” or “no” or “for” or “against”, she stated, “Projects like this can be major economic assets, but good leadership requires full due diligence.”

In the same article, her mayoral runoff opponent, former city manager Isaiah Hugley, said his support for Project Ruby would be conditional.

“We must protect taxpayers, our infrastructure, public health and maintain full transparency with citizens,” he said.

Cogle’s video was met with comments that called out her video for being without a solution and needed more than a list of concerns. While others applauded her and said they have her vote.

“You’re going to have to do better than ‘concerns.’ If you’re not against it then you are for it. And we know it,” Jeff Taylor wrote in a comment on the Facebook video reel.

“Then vote NO!” Debbie Kinder commented.

“Totally agree with you,” Sheree Mitchael commented.

“Amen sister. You are on the right concern. Cogle for Mayor,” Nancy Hammond Rinn commented.