Washington Commission to Hear BrightRidge on Bitcoin Mining Noise Complaints |

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By Robert Houk

JONESBOROUGH Washington County Commissioners are expected to hear from BrightRidge officials tonight regarding noise complaints about a bitcoin mining operation in rural Washington County.

The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. at the George P. Jaynes Justice Center.

The presentation was originally slated to be on the committee’s agenda in June, but was postponed after BrightRidge officials said the engineer involved in fixing these noise issues was unable to attend this meeting.

BrightRidge officials were invited to attend the council meeting after Commissioners heard from residents of the Limestone community in May.

Craig Ponder, pastor of the New Salem Baptist Church, said his congregation and neighbors in the community were disturbed by the constant noise of the computers and cooling fans used by Red Dog Technologies in its cyber-mining operation.

Bitcoin mining is a process that produces cryptocurrency using computers to solve very complex mathematical problems.

Residents of Limestone also told commissioners of their concerns about the planning of another bitcoin installation in rural Washington County.

Commission Chairman Greg Matherly said last week that Commissioner Kent Harris, whose district is affected by noise complaints, was the main advocate for hearing BrightRidge officials on the issue.

Matherly said Harris was unable to attend the committee meeting on Monday, which means the discussion on the bitcoin issue will also be heard in August.

In other business tonight, the commissioners will vote on:

A resolution authorizing the use of capital project funds to renovate the space at the George P. Jaynes Justice Center for the County Election Commission to relocate its offices.

The resolution states that the county purchasing agent does not authorize more than $ 9,999 (with an additional $ 1,500 for design costs) to renovate space formerly occupied by the district attorney general’s office.

The Election Commission voted on Friday to ask commissioners to change this resolution and allow it to remain on the third floor of the Washington County Courthouse using the designated $ 9,999 to perform necessary security upgrades in its offices current.

A resolution to cede property in the Washington County Industrial Park to the County Industrial Bond Board, which will be offered as a purchase option to a potential company, identified as Project Stamp, seeking to locate in the old Alo building as part of a payment in lieu of taxes.

Resolutions to change county zoning codes to address ancillary structures in agricultural districts and update the title of Zoning Administrator to Director of Planning.

Another resolution would allow residential drug recovery homes to be located in Districts A-3 (farm businesses) and MS (medical services) provided they are licensed by the state of Tennessee.

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