Cartersville address allegations of backroom deal
Cartersville Council 2 08//26
Cartersville city officials confirmed they met with Databank Hold Ltd. before the company applied for a rezoning request to build a data center on land of the former Lever Bros. building in the industrial park.
Questions arose about the process leading up to the application during a public hearing Thursday night when local businessman Greg Cordell spoke, accusing the city of working on the deal outside of the public’s view and deliberately leaving wife and councilwoman Alyssa Cordell in the dark regarding the plans.
Alyssa Cordell represents the district where the data center is proposed.
Mayor Matt Santini said he met with Databank officials once before the rezoning application was submitted.
“I made it very clear to the applicant that once the application is filed, all conversations would be before the council in a public session,” Santini said.
Databank officials said during the public hearing that most require a non-disclosure agreement in these types of discussions, but they chose to allow everything to be shared publicly.
Cartersville City Manager and city attorney Keith Lovell said after the meeting that discussion with Databank Holdings were part of normal business protocol. Company officials came to city hall to ask about procedure, requirements, power generation, water and other similar topics before filing an application, Porta said.
Porta said he and Santini met once with company officials. Databank officials also met with Porta’s team to find out more of what was needed for the rezoning application, he said.
Lovell said all city council members were informed of the discussions approximately two months ago by email and verbally. He said they were kept updated as discussions continued.
Melody Dareing is a freelance writer for publications in the U.S, Canada, the UK and Germany. She is a former news director of Adelphia Channel 4 and WBHF Radio. She is on Facebook, X, YouTube, content on Substack, and has a podcast on Rumble.