Back in May, we were hearing reports of a potential technology project that was getting underway near the Deer Creek Golf Course in Hubbard but we haven't heard much else since then.

In the months leading to November, the silence has been cause for concern for residents who say they don't want a data center in their backyards.

"We're concerned that this is not really the direction that we want Hubbard to go in and we're asking for you to pass an ordinance to exclude data centers from the city," Melisa Wade, Hubbard resident said.

The residents brought a petition to council members Monday night presenting these concerns and asked Trumbull County Commissioners to attend the meeting and lend an ear.

"We are becoming a dumping ground for these things, just like Virginia," Margie Johnson, Hubbard resident said. "If you look at their economics, it has driven up their tax base so high that people cannot afford to live in those towns," she said.

Commissioners were understanding of the resident's concerns.

"What we're hearing is that they come into a community and if they are built, that they put a strain on your electric and the water, which in turn increases your rates and I think the citizens have a valid point in that," Tony Bernard, Trumbull County Commissioner said. "We need to know more about data centers and actually why they all of a sudden wanna come into Trumbull County," he said.

"As commissioners, we are all about economic development but we are here to answer to the concerns of the people and hear their concerns and they have very valid concerns," Rick Hernandez, Trumbull County Commissioner said. "As a commissioner on a county level, we really don't have, at this point in time, any type of power to keep them out other than the local municipality or township," he said.

Hubbard Mayor, Benjamin Kyle said as of right now, there's nothing to worry about because nothing has been set in motion.

"We've never seen any form of firm plans or information, it's just in the phase of utility review and finding out what is necessary for this business to go into any certain location wherever it is here in the county," Kyle said.

The mayor adds, if and when the time comes, there will be plenty of public meetings for residents to continue voicing their concerns and find out more information on this as it becomes available.