MORGAN COUNTY FAIR — Morgan County’s new neighbor came to the fair this year, and made its presence felt in a number of ways. How that presence was received, well, that depends on who you ask.
Online, the reaction was — in typical internet fashion — ferocious, with residents voicing loud opposition to Google’s involvement.
“I wonder how many folks from Martinsville made it to the data center lovin’, county owned fair festivities,” one user wrote on Facebook. “And of course took advantage of the free parking and ice cream sponsored by Google. I can only imagine what things would be like around here and who would actually have the influence if no one showed up to fill the county coffers with their fair lovin’, entertainment budget.”
“I’m boycotting the fair because apparently Morgan County sold out to Google and is offering free parking for the fair this year in support of the data center,” wrote another Facebook user. “Me and my family will go to another county fair. To each his own.”
But walking around the fairgrounds last week, the reaction was a lot less severe, with many fairgoers expressing gratitude for Google’s involvement.
“It was nice of them to pay for some of the ice cream, but it was gone too fast,” said one resident. “I missed out! But the free parking was nice.”
“We loved the free parking,” said two women walking the grounds together. “That’s so friendly, and it’s good for families. You pay a lot for parking at the state fair. It’s a great thing for the community, that everyone can enjoy the summer.”
Google provided the Morgan County Fair with $117,000, according to fair president Jason Maxwell. This money provided free parking ($43,000), 8,400 free ice cream cones or milkshakes ($42,000), with the rest of the money providing the July 18 Cincinnati Circus shows as well as sponsorships.
Maxwell defended accepting money from Google to pay for some of the fair’s festivities.
“We are a non-profit, and they don’t do anything illegal,” Maxwell said. “As far as I’m concerned, they are no different than any other company in town that wants to give me money for the fair. They just happen to be a very big company.”
Lisa MacPhee, director of the Morgan County Soil & Water Conservation District, also gave comment at the fairgrounds about grumblings online regarding boycotts.
“All a boycott would accomplish is hurting the community,” MacPhee said. “The (4-H) kids didn’t vote for Google to come to town. They’ve worked hard all year. A boycott would only punish them.”
Other online critics were critical of what Google was paying for, with some arguing that Google was not providing nearly enough given the size of their company. Invariably, these critics directed ire at the company’s planned data center campus in Monroe Township that has angered residents since the project was announced.
“Google is paying for the parking, but they are also pushing the data centers in our backyards,” wrote one Facebook user. “People are already being threatened to lose land they own without any compensation or say so for their land. This is how they work. Let them think we are here to help and support the community, and then we have a data center that none of us want, and they say… but we paid for everyone’s parking! We are good!”
One couple who spoke with The Correspondent at the fairgrounds also brought up, unprompted, concerns about data centers.
The couple said they were visiting from Florida, and they were pleased that the county commissioners where they live passed a 365-day moratorium on data centers while they conducted more research. The couple pointed to environmental concerns as the primary reason they do not want a data center next to where they live.
“Don’t mess with our Florida,” they said.
Ultimately, though, most people who spoke with The Correspondent at the fair were pleased that Google extended a helping hand with the fair this year.
“I think the parking and the ice cream are great,” said one couple. “That’s quite a gift that they did that.”
The Morgan County Fair is now over for the year, but Google will likely remain planted in Morgan County for quite some time. The company has repeatedly expressed its desire to be a “good neighbor,” and for at least some fairgoers, Google’s actions at the fair have proved them to be a good neighbor indeed.
