The April 8 Saline Township board meeting drew residents and activists from inside and outside the community. Many recorded on their phones as discussion of the Related Digital data center grew tense and expanded into concerns about safety, infrastructure and township decision-making.
The agenda included a scheduled “Related Digital/Data Center Update,” along with proposals for master plan update assistance and zoning ordinance consolidation. The board later tabled both items after public objections.
During the data center update, township consulting engineer Dan Cabbage said construction was moving ahead as expected. He said multiple foundations were under way, roads were in place and utility work was continuing. He added that the township had not seen sediment control problems despite recent heavy rain.
Cabbage said dewatering at the site was limited to trench work, not sitewide pumping. He also said the first round of groundwater monitoring data matched expected seasonal groundwater levels for the property…