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North Fulton cities sign amicus brief supporting Milton Ruling in wrongful death suit could ripple across the state By HANNAH YAHNE hannah@appenmedia.com NORTH FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — Municipalities across the state are again signing amicus briefs as the case of Chang v. City of Milton remains on remand from the state Supreme Court. It’s been nearly 10 years since Josh Chang died after striking a concrete planter on the shoulder of Batesville Road in Milton. His family sued the city for wrongful death in Fulton County Superior Court, and a jury found the city liable on theories of negligence and nuisance. The trial court found that Milton's sovereign immunity – the legal doctrine that shields governments from lawsuits – had been waived because the city had a ministerial duty to maintain its streets and the planter was located within the public right-of-way.
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Mothers, sons form team to refurbish headstones ► PAGE 4
HANNAH YAHNE/APPEN MEDIA
City Attorney Ken Jarrard, far right, explains to the Milton City Council the intent behind implementing a moratorium on data centers. The measure was approved at the June 18 meeting.
Milton approves moratorium on data center developments By HANNAH YAHNE hannah@appenmedia.com MILTON, Ga. — Milton enacted a moratorium on data center applications June 15 to allow city staff time to draft possible amendments to the Unified Development Code addressing the developments. The 30-day moratorium will allow the City Council to host a public hearing in early July to weigh possible regulations. “The idea is to be able to make sure that we’re prepared should we receive an application,” City Attorney Ken Jarrard said.
The City Council approved the decision unanimously with council members Juliette Johnson and Carol Cookerly absent. The action comes two weeks after resident Dr. Cameron Howard raised concerns about Milton’s lack of a policy surrounding data centers and specifically asked that the city implement a moratorium at the council’s first meeting in June. Howard said he would not like to see Milton’s remaining land bought and turned into a data center. He expressed worry over the effect data centers have on the power and water supply. “A lot of times with new infrastruc-
ture comes spreading the cost amongst many users, and that would affect many of us,” Howard said. Georgia is among the top five states with the most data centers with around 200. Currently, the closest data center to Milton is in Alpharetta on a 14-acre site on Union Hill Road. Also at the meeting, City Council members approved an intergovernmental agreement with Alpharetta to allow inmates with municipal and state charges to be housed at the Alpharetta Jail Facility.
See DATA, Page 26