Subject: Respectfully Requesting a Pause on the Silver Fox Data Center Proposal Until SB 484 Takes Full Effect – Honoring Your Oath to Protect Both Our Economy and Our People

Dear Honorable Council Members,

As residents who have entrusted you with the solemn responsibility of governing Indiantown, we write today not to oppose growth, but to remind you of the full scope of your elected power and the oath you took upon assuming office.

You swore to support, protect, and defend the Constitution of the State of Florida and to discharge your duties faithfully and impartially — with the highest priority being the health, safety, and welfare of the people you serve. That oath does not ask you to choose between a healthy economy and healthy families. It requires you to protect both. The institutional welfare of government revenues and the long-term economic vitality of our community are important, but they must never come at the expense of the air we breathe, the water we drink, the quiet nights we depend on, or the wetlands and wildlife that define who we are.

On March 13, 2026, the Florida Legislature overwhelmingly passed CS/CS/SB 484 — the state’s first comprehensive law governing large-scale data centers. While the bill awaits the Governor’s signature, its core protections are clear and were designed precisely for situations like the one now before you. Here are the key elements that directly strengthen your authority and your duty:

1. Local Control Remains Absolute (Section 1 – effective upon becoming law) The Legislature explicitly reaffirmed that cities and counties retain full authority over comprehensive planning, zoning, and land-development regulations for “large load customers” such as data centers. They may not be treated as mere electric substations. → This is your power. You do not need Tallahassee’s permission to say “no” or “not yet” if the project conflicts with Indiantown’s rural character, flood-prone wetlands, or comprehensive plan.
2. Ratepayer Protection – No Cost Shifting to Our Families (new s. 366.043) Data centers must bear their full cost of service for electricity. The Public Service Commission must ensure residential and small-business ratepayers are not subsidizing massive infrastructure upgrades. → This protects the economic welfare of the very people you represent — not just institutional budgets.
3. Strict Water Safeguards (new s. 373.262) Water management districts and DEP cannot issue a consumptive-use permit if the proposed water use would be “harmful to the water resources of the area.” Large-scale data centers must use reclaimed water when feasible and submit detailed conservation plans. → In a community already mindful of its water supply, this provision exists to prevent exactly the kind of strain the Silver Fox proposal could create.
4. Independent, Comprehensive Study Required (OPPAGA mandate) By July 1, 2027, the state will deliver a neutral, expert analysis covering real economic impacts, land and water use, energy demands, and public health and safety effects. → This study will give you objective data — far beyond any single developer-funded report — so your decision rests on facts, not hype.

Why waiting until SB 484 is fully in effect (July 1, 2026) is the responsible and lawful path forward:

By pausing any final action on the Silver Fox proposal until the law takes effect, you are not delaying progress — you are exercising prudent stewardship. You honor your oath by ensuring that:

• Every available state-level protection for health, safety, and ratepayers is active before irreversible zoning or permitting decisions are made.
• The independent OPPAGA study can inform your local review rather than arriving after the fact.
• You demonstrate to the people of Indiantown that their elected leaders prioritize balanced, responsible governance over rushed economic promises that have not always delivered in similar communities.

You were elected to lead, not to rubber-stamp. The people of Indiantown placed their trust in you to weigh both the dollar signs and the human costs. SB 484 was written to give you the tools and the cover to do exactly that.

We respectfully urge you to table further consideration of the Silver Fox data center until after July 1, 2026, when the full protections of state law are in place. This small pause will allow you to fulfill your oath completely — protecting both our economic future and the health, safety, and quality of life that make Indiantown the place we proudly call home.

Thank you for your service and for considering the full weight of your responsibility.

Respectfully submitted, Eric D. Miller Indiantown Resident / Indiantown Community Task for safe Development

Here is the language from SB484. It provides the Council a WHOLE LOT OF CONTROL LOCALLY !

You can now do what Wade has told you, you cannot. Make a motion to table until such time the new State Laws can help us all.