I put my code in: https://github.com/LesleyPhillips/JeromeTownship
Jerome Township exist in Union county Ohio. They use CivicPlus to manage exposure of public facing documents. Getting to them one at a time for large scale analysis against the documents stored there was troublesome.
They have a pleasant interface accessible through their Agendas & Meetings. If you like to take some time doing so you can spend a lot of time click through their collection and downloading the files one at a time. I asked the Jerome township folks for a dump of the files and they directed me here.
So...
I created a local directory, wrote some code, and downloaded a bunch of their stuff. From there I was able to rummage as I see fit.
E:\JeromeTownship\1766.pdf <- 16 Feb 2021 - Record of proceedings
E:\JeromeTownship\1828.pdf <- 7 Sep 2021 - Record of proceedings
I got over 1700+ doc altogether.
I did not keep the pretty names from CivicPlus. As they are not needed, but the file names were super important. With the file name I can access these files through: "https://www.jerometownship.com/home/showpublisheddocument/"
But First..
Go to their website: https://www.jerometownship.com/
Go to Agendas and Minutes
Go and open a doc through their interface,
Then after opening any one (this get you a proper session key for accessing the rest of the doc), you can modify the url to open the PDF of your choice...
Like this: https://www.jerometownship.com/home/showpublisheddocument/2845.pdf
The text, below, from the PDFs from Jerome township are simple copy and paste. While the original images in the PDFs read properly, because Jerome Township wont share the original text that were used to create the documents, you get the computer's Optical Character Recognition translation. Below you can see some of the misspellings from that.
I eventually worked on a body of Python to run the PDFs throug 3 different OCR filters where there was no underlying text, so this work is not definitive at all, but it is a fun start, and makes for a good academic workout.
As it is a bit of a hot topic of the day, I focused on the use of the words "data center". These are my initial results.
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E:\JeromeTownship\2845.pdf <- 6 Dec 2022 - 2015 zoning resolution amended
E:\JeromeTownship\2847.pdf <- 6 Dec 2022 - 2015 zoning resolution amended
E:\JeromeTownship\2927.pdf <- 21 Nov 2016
E:\JeromeTownship\4576.pdf <- 6 Feb 2024 - 2015 zoning resolution amended
E:\JeromeTownship\4724.pdf <- 7 Aug 2024 - 2015 zoning resolution amended
E:\JeromeTownship\4930.pdf <- 6 Nov 2024 - Record of proceedings
Executive Session
At 8:34 p.m, it was moved by Barry Adler and seconded by Wezlynn Davis that the Jerome Township
Board of Trustees adopt the following motion:
The Jerome Township Board of Trustees adjourn into executive session pursuant to Ohio
Revised Code Section 121.22(G)(8) for the purpose of considering confidential information
related to the marketing plans, specific business strategy, and trade secrets of an applicant for
economic development assistance that is to be provided or administered pursuant to Sections
3735.65 to 3735.70, and Section 5709.73 of the Ohio Revised Code, and involves public
infrastructure improvements directly related to an economic development project. The
executive session is necessary to protect the interests of the applicant or the possible investment
or expenditure of public funds to be made in connection with the proposed economic
development project.
The vote resulted as follows:
Barry Adler, yes
Wezlynn Davis, yes
Lonnie (Joe) Craft, yes
The motion carried.
E:\JeromeTownship\4936.pdf <- 17 Dec 2024
The entire record was about adding ~7 acres for the support of a data center
The vote resulted as follows:
Barry Adler, yes
Wezlynn Davis, yes
Lonnie (Joe) Craft, yes
The motion carried. (Res. 24-092)
E:\JeromeTownship\5194.pdf <- 3 Sep 2025 - Meeting Agenda
E:\JeromeTownship\5208.pdf <- 7 May 2025 - 2015 zoning resolution amended
E:\JeromeTownship\5214.pdf <- 5 Aug 2025 - Record of proceedings
Public Participation
Jeanette Harrington addressed the Board regarding the noise from the data center located on Ind Iustrial Parkway. She indicated the business has refused to address the noise issue and pointed to the Zoningise Resolution stating that conditional use approval should not be permitted if there is excessive traffic, noise or odors She added the excessive noise beeins around 9:00 p.m and poes through the night. Eric or odors. She added the excessive noise begins around 9:00 p.m. and goes through the night. Eric Snowden pointed out that the section ofthe Zoning Code Jeanette Harrington referenced had been amended since the conditional use permit for this business was approved. He also referenced the performance standards located in Section 670. It was recommended that Eric Snowden work with the resident to obtain additional decibel readings
E:\JeromeTownship\5216.pdf <- 7 May 2025 - 2015 zoning resolution amended
E:\JeromeTownship\5242.pdf <- 19 Aug 2025 - Record of proceedings
Public Comment
Mike Nolan addressed the Board indicating he has had a good working relationship with Mr. Dugger through a prior project. He stated his concerns may be premature as the use of the property has yet to beŠ² determined.d. He stated he understands the desire for this property to be zoned commercial but fears the project could related to a data center. He reiterated he is not opposed to the proposed commercial use but counativak offoct cutrent recidente does oppose any use which would negatively affect current residents.
Several other residents expressed their concerns over data centers and questioned the process of how residents are notified of rezoning requests. The Board assured the residents that all proper notifications did take place
Board of Trustee Action
Barry Adler proposed the Board continue the hearing to allow the applicant to meet with neighbors to address their concerns. Glen Dugger stated his willingness for the hearing to be continued At 8:36 p.m. it was moved by Joe Craft and seconded by Wezlynn Davis that the Board of Township Trustees of Jerome Township adopt the following motion:
The Jerome Township Board of Trustees continue the hearing in Case No. Z25-002 until September 3, 2025 at 7:00 p.m. at the Township Hall located at 9777 Industrial Parkway.
The vote resulted as follows:
Barry Adler, yes
Wezlynn Davis, yes
Lonnie (Joe) Craft, yes
The motion carried
E:\JeromeTownship\5289.pdf <- 3 Sep 2025 - Record of proceedings (the moratorium)
Members of the Board stated that due to citizens' concerns regarding data centers and performance standards to be reviewed and possibly updated, they wished to consider a moratorium on data centers. It was noted that while data centers can be a source of economic returns with limited impact of roads and schoole theu ale necent renes for recidente neludng noics tichting huff The schools, they also present issues for residents including noise, lighting, buffering, and construction. The Board debated the length of the moratorium ranging from six months to one year. Wezlynn Davis recommended twelve months while Joe Craft indicating he is okay with six months. Barry Adler reminedthe Board of the amount of time it takes to approve amendments to the standards. Wezlynn Davis then proposed nine months. It was moved by Wezlynn Davis and seconded by Joe Craft that the Jerome ieesoard of Tostees adont the followine resolution Township Board of Trustees adopt the following resolution:
The Jerome Township Board of Trustees approve a Resolution to Enact a Nine-Month Moratorium on the Receipt, Processing, Issuance or Approval of any Application for a Zoning Certificate Certiticate 10r for NAICS NAICS 51s 518 -ata - Data Processing, rocessing, frosting Hosting and Related Services (Data Centers) ad Riat Under Article 4, Sections 440-01 & 445.01 or Article 5 of the Jerome Zoning Resolution.
The vote resulted as follows:
Barry Adler, yes
Wezlynn Davis, yes
Lonnie (Joe) Craft, yes
The resolution carried. (Res. 25-061)
E:\JeromeTownship\5323.pdf <- 12 Jan 2026 - Zoning Commission Agenda
G. New Business/Public Hearing(s)
1. Case #ZT25-002 –Text Amendment, Data Center Land Use, Articles 2, 4, 5, & 6 Revisions
[Case File] -> https://jerometownship.portal.iworq.net/JEROMETOWNSHIP/permit/601/27940247
E:\JeromeTownship\5335.pdf <- 26 Jan 2026 - Zoning Commission Agenda
E. Old Business/Continued Public Hearing(s)
1. Case #ZT25-002 –Text Amendment, Data Center Land Use, Articles 2, 4, 5, & 6 Revisions
[Case File] (same as above)
E:\JeromeTownship\5341.pdf <- 09 Feb 2026 - Zoning Commission Agenda
E. Old Business/Continued Public Hearing(s)
1. Case #ZT25-002 –Text Amendment, Data Center Land Use, Articles 2, 4, 5, & 6 Revisions
[Case File] (same as above)
I found the memorandum text as a link as an attachment to #ZT25-002
