In a recent development affecting Pulaski County, Arkansas, a clerical error has resulted in the failure of a proposed moratorium on data centers. County Clerk Terri Hollingsworth acknowledged the mistake, which incorrectly recorded the votes needed to pass the ordinance.

Details of the Error

During the Pulaski County Quorum Court’s monthly meeting on May 26, 2026, Clerk Hollingsworth, serving as the Quorum Court Secretary, mistakenly recorded the votes for Emergency Ordinance 26-I-37. This ordinance aimed to impose a temporary halt on the acceptance, processing, and approval of applications for the development of data centers within the unincorporated areas of the county.

The ordinance required a minimum of 10 affirmative votes to pass as an emergency measure. However, upon review, it was found that this threshold was not met due to the misrecording of at least two ‘present’ votes, which were not properly accounted for. Consequently, the ordinance was incorrectly marked as adopted.

Implications and Next Steps

The proposed moratorium was intended to place a 12-month pause on new data center projects, a move inspired by a similar billboard moratorium currently in place in the county. Despite the setback, county leaders have indicated that the Quorum Court may revisit the proposal in its next meeting.

Two data center projects have already received tentative approval, one located in the port of Little Rock and another near Wrightsville. The push for a moratorium reflects a growing national trend of opposition to data centers, with advocates seeking to slow down or block such developments.

Clerk Hollingsworth has issued an apology for the error and any confusion it may have caused, emphasizing the importance of accurate vote recording in maintaining public trust and ensuring proper governance.

Original reporting: THV11 Little Rock — read the source article.