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MOUNTAIN CITY, Tenn. (WJHL) — The Johnson County Commission met Thursday night to vote on a moratorium on Bitcoin mining centers in the county for one year.
The commission ultimately rejected the ordinance, which would have prevented the following, under the County Powers Act:
- Adult entertainment defined as adult activities, businesses or ventures that are lewd, lascivious, or explicit in nature
- Methadone clinics and/or other facilities where medications for opioid disorders are dispensed
- Debris dumping and hauling from other counties or states
- New junk yard, recycling center development, unless approved with appropriate fencing, screening and approval by the county commission and business licensing before beginning operation
- Cryptocurrency operation and/or data center development
“And the County Powers Act was shut down, presumably because of the likeness to zoning that it would potentially open the door to for Johnson County,” Johnson County Attorney Ryan Carroll said. “And like that, tonight, this vote required a two-thirds vote to pass because it would regulate a local action, which is a specific thing for Johnson County, which would be a moratorium for one year on cryptocurrency mines opening.”
The commission found the moratorium stipulations “too broad” and banned individuals from Bitcoin mining as a hobby or through a company. However, residents were not thrilled with this decision, with several walking out of the meeting once the vote was read. Some residents mentioned running for local office.
Carroll said that Johnson County lacks strict zoning regulations, like Unicoi and Hawkins counties. He believes the primary concerns of the county are more related to zoning issues than to Bitcoin itself.