Photo: Saline Township Hall is pictured at dusk, where township officials have faced months of public meetings, legal pressure, and intense scrutiny surrounding the proposed data center and the decision to approve it with conditions as part of a lawsuit settlement. Photo by Doug Marrin
Editor’s note: Public opposition to the proposed data center has been strong, and many residents have shared their concerns in meetings, letters, and public comment. This article does not argue for or against the project. Its purpose is to present the perspective of Saline Township officials who were directly involved in the process, particularly after a lawsuit shaped the options available to the township. Their views are offered to add context to a complex and emotionally charged issue, not to replace or diminish community voices.
For months, Saline Township officials have sat at the center of a storm they say they never sought out. They describe an experience marked by long meetings, legal pressure, angry emails, sleepless nights, and a growing sense that no decision, no matter how carefully weighed, would leave the community whole…