ASHVILLE, Ohio — The Ohio Supreme Court on Friday ordered Ashville Fiscal Officer April Grube to certify a referendum petition on a village council resolution tied to a proposed EdgeConneX data center project, ruling that she had no legal authority to keep the question off the ballot. On April 15, McNamara-Smith submitted a certified copy of a referendum petition to the village and began collecting signatures. McNamara-Smith and the other two residents filed suit directly with the Ohio Supreme Court on July 14, seeking a writ ordering Grube to certify the petition in time for the November ballot. The Pickaway County Board of Elections must still independently determine whether the petition and the underlying resolution are eligible for the ballot. This story is based on the Ohio Supreme Court’s Aug. 7, 2026 opinion in State ex rel.