Armed with protest signs and colored shirts, Cowetans voiced their support and opposition to the county's debated data center ordinance.

After receiving feedback on the ordinance's third public draft, the Board of Commissioners voted to continue its public hearing at its Dec. 16 meeting.

The 40 minutes allotted for speakers during the public hearing elapsed with four people still signed up to speak.

"Right now, with what I've heard … we should postpone ratifying the ordinance tonight," said Commissioner Al Smith, when commissioners were prompted to give additional time to the remaining speakers. "I don't know what hearing more people is going to do since I'm of the opinion we need to take more time. I don't want to hear nobody else talk."

The county's data center moratorium is set to e

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