Public commenters warned commissioners about environmental and fiscal risks of proposed AI hyperscale data centers and raised privacy and funding concerns about Flock license‑plate cameras, urging the county to include hefty bonds and transparency requirements in any ordinance.

Multiple residents raised environmental and public‑health concerns during public comment, urging the commission to require extensive technical review before any data‑center approvals. Speakers cited the Ocala Limestone, sinkholes, potential PFAS refrigerant/fire‑suppression releases and high water and power demands.

Two citizen speakers with technical backgrounds warned that a proposed 480‑megawatt data center on Coleman Road could store large volumes of cooling fluids, diesel and PFAS and that development on karst limestone with sinkholes could create irreversible contamination and subsurface collapse risks.

Multiple residents told commissioners they oppose or want stronger scrutiny of proposed data centers, raising issues including high water use, noise, local wells and emissions; a researcher meeting was announced for Feb. 19.