County Commissioners Increase Scrutiny of NDAs and Update Zoning Resolution to Address Data Center Development

Provided by the Board of Miami County Commissioners

TROY — Effective Thursday, July 30, 2026, no employee, manager, or department head under the authority of the Board of Miami County Commissioners will enter into any work related “nondisclosure agreements”, “confidentiality agreements”, or any other agreement whereby the employee agrees to not disclose any information obtained while performing their duties in the Commissioners’ employment [collectively “NDAs] without the express permission of the County Commissioners. The new Policy Directive from the Commissioners’ Administrator prohibits employee execution of work-related NDAs without Commissioner approval. The Directive also prohibits verbal agreements to confidentiality terms or indications of intent to sign NDAs without the approval of the Commissioners.

   Increased scrutiny on the official use of NDAs is just one measure the Miami County Commissioners are taking to conduct economic development in a measured and transparent approach, especially with respect to data center projects.

   Development in most unincorporated areas of Miami County is governed by the Miami County Zoning Resolution. The Commissioners are currently overseeing a Department of Development initiative to update the Zoning Resolution to ensure it appropriately addresses current development priorities and adjusts processes to ensure that the potential negative impacts of a project are carefully considered before project approval. Data Centers are currently a pressing example of the need for transparency and the importance of careful consideration of all impacts before project approval. The Zoning Resolution update will specifically address data centers for the first time.

   It is important to note that the Miami County Zoning Resolution does not apply to any incorporated city or village in the county or to areas located within Brown, Lost Creek, Elizabeth, or Bethel Townships; these townships, villages, and cities exercise their own zoning authority.

   The Zoning Resolution Update is in its final stages and will be presented to the Miami County Commissioners for approval in the coming months.