A bitcoin mining operation in rural northwest Bourbon County has been a recurring subject at county commission meetings since October 2025, prompting noise complaints from neighbors, two county moratoriums, a county-wide noise resolution, an unsuccessful proposal for a much broader business moratorium, several opinion pieces, and a private civil lawsuit. This is a chronological summary of the publicly documented events to date.
October 6, 2025 — First commission discussion of bitcoin mining noise
Resident Dereck Ranes brought noise complaints to the Bourbon County Commission about natural-gas generators powering a bitcoin mining operation near his property. Ranes asked the commission for a moratorium and a noise resolution. Neighbors Kimberly Sparks and Jill Franklin also addressed commissioners about noise and vibration. Sheriff Bill Martin said his department was investigating but that enforcement of any noise rule would require county-hired personnel, since the sheriff’s office is not a code-enforcement agency. The commission agreed to continue the discussion and work on a draft moratorium. (story)
October 14, 2025 — Commission unanimously passes a 12-month moratorium on cryptocurrency mining
At its October 14 meeting the commission voted unanimously to pass a 12-month moratorium specifically directed at cryptocurrency mining. Commissioner David Beerbower moved to adopt the resolution; Commissioner Samuel Tran questioned whether the regulation would expose the county to litigation but supported it after Beerbower clarified that the moratorium targeted cryptocurrency mining only, not natural-gas extraction. County Counselor Bob Johnson told the commission that a moratorium applies only to new activity (not existing operations) and that the typical purpose is to give the planning commission time to develop more comprehensive rules. The text was to be published and signed at the next meeting. (story)
October 20, 2025 — Continued discussion; “cease-and-desist” requested
At the October 20 meeting Dereck Ranes thanked the commission for the moratorium but asked for a cease-and-desist directed at the existing operation, saying the noise was causing headaches and ear pain. Commissioner Beerbower asked all commissioners to begin formulating parameters for a county noise resolution, separate from the cryptocurrency moratorium, that would address volume and duration without targeting any specific industry. The noise resolution was added to the November 10 agenda. (story)
October 23, 2025 — Special meeting; proposed noise ordinance presented
At a special commission meeting on October 23, 2025, a proposed noise ordinance was presented for the first time. The draft would establish decibel limits for different zoning areas, define noise violations, and assign enforcement to the sheriff’s department. Commissioners discussed decibel levels, exemptions for agricultural operations, and enforcement mechanisms, and agreed to bring the ordinance back at the next regular meeting after legal review. (special-meeting story · text of the proposed ordinance as presented)
October 27, 2025 — Commission continues noise resolution discussion
Commissioner David Beerbower read a prepared statement and recommended the matter be referred to the planning commission rather than handled by the county commission directly. Commissioners Mika Milburn-Kee and Samuel Tran agreed that the planning commission should formulate the ordinance, with Tran noting that the language in the current draft could be considered zoning, which is outside the commission’s direct authority. Derek Ranes spoke during public comment, describing the noise from the bitcoin mining generator as continuous and unlike intermittent noises. County Counselor Bob Johnson warned about the legal implications of enforcement and selective prosecution. Sheriff Bill Martin reiterated that his department cannot enforce a noise resolution and suggested that a code-enforcement officer would have to be hired. (story)
November 3, 2025 — Work session on the proposed noise ordinance
Commissioner Samuel Tran reported a decibel reading of 58 dB at the gate of the bitcoin mining property — lower than earlier readings — though Commissioner David Beerbower noted that the sheriff’s department recorded higher readings later. Tran raised concerns about enforceability and the potential breadth of the proposed resolution. Beerbower continued working on the resolution and said the planning commission could later repeal or amend it as needed. (story)
November 11, 2025 — Evotech representatives appear before commission
Attorney Ty Patton of Trip, Wolf and Garrison (Wichita) and Adam Couch, one of the owners of Evolution Technology, LLC (operating as Evotech), addressed the commission. They explained that the operation:
- consists of two shipping containers of computers powered by an on-site natural-gas generator (not the electrical grid),
- produces approximately 1 megawatt,
- runs around the clock, and
- registers 55–77 dB at the site entrance, according to readings the sheriff’s office had taken at different times of day.
Patton said Evotech had added noise-mitigation fencing and that further mitigation would cost between $75,000 and $100,000. Nearby residents Derek Ranes, David Ranes, and Charlotte O’Hara expressed concerns about noise, vibration, and the possibility that similar operations could be sited on other abandoned gas wells in the county. (story)
November 17, 2025 — Planning Commission’s broader moratorium proposal tabled
The agenda packet for the November 17 commission meeting included a recommendation from the Bourbon County Planning Commission for a moratorium that would have required all new non-agricultural commercial or industrial businesses in unincorporated areas of the county to obtain a special use permit from the commission before operating. The commission voted unanimously to table the recommendation. The narrower bitcoin-mining moratorium from October 14 remained the only moratorium on the books at that point.
December 15, 2025 — Commission adopts Resolution 50-25 (Noise Limitations); narrower industrial moratorium directed for drafting
On a 2-1 vote, the commission adopted Resolution 50-25, “Noise Limitations in Unincorporated Areas of Bourbon County, Kansas.” Commissioner Mika Milburn-Kee voted against. The resolution prohibits “loud, unnecessary, or unusual” noise near residences and adopts EPA guidelines for measurement. The thresholds it identifies are noise exceeding 70 dB for a 24-hour duration, 55 dB outdoors and 45 dB indoors between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m., and 45 dB outdoors and 35 dB indoors between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. — measured within 75 feet of the source as prima facie evidence of a violation. The resolution assigns enforcement to the commission or its designee and sets a maximum fine of $500 per day per offense.
At the same meeting the commission directed the county counselor to draft a narrower moratorium covering utility-level power generation, energy storage, cryptocurrency mining, data centers, and waste disposal. (story · Resolution 50-25 (PDF))
January 5, 2026 — Commission unanimously approves Resolution 07-26 (180-day industrial moratorium)
At the January 5 meeting, County Counselor Bob Johnson presented a draft moratorium resolution. Chairman David Beerbower moved to approve Resolution 07-26, “providing for a temporary moratorium of utility scale power generation, crypto mining, data centers, and waste disposal operations in Bourbon County, Kansas.” Commissioner Samuel Tran seconded. The motion passed unanimously. The moratorium runs 180 days and specifically exempts the three solar energy projects previously approved under Resolution 41-25. It does not apply to commercial or industrial businesses generally — the broader moratorium recommended by the Planning Commission in November never advanced.
Ben Hall, a property owner at 80th and Willow Road, used public comment to describe a dispute with Evotech over a gas well on his property: he said Evotech had approached him in summer 2025 about leasing the well, that negotiations stalled over price, and that an Evotech contractor had later told a rural-water-district worker that Evotech had permission to access Hall’s property and could cut locks if needed. Hall said he had received no documentation supporting any access right and characterized Evotech’s actions as bullying and harassment. County Counselor Bob Johnson said the well dispute appeared to be a civil matter between private parties. (story)
February 13, 2026 — Civil lawsuit filed
Dereck Ranes, Cassie Ranes, David Ranes, and Verna Ranes filed a petition in Bourbon County District Court, case number BB-2026-CV-000013, against Evolution Technology, LLC and Charles Rees (the landowner of the site). The case is classified as “CV Other Tort” and is assigned to Judge Richard M. Fisher Jr.
The plaintiffs are represented by Rustin Kimmell of the Kimmell Law Firm LLC, Burlington, Kansas. Evolution Technology is represented by Matthew Hogan of Rasmussen, Dicky, Dioszeghy, Henry, Ijei in Kansas City, Missouri. Defendant Charles Rees is represented by Gary E. Thompson of Mound City, Kansas. The county is not a party to the lawsuit.
February 23, 2026 — Commission considers changes to the noise resolution; changes tabled (resolution remains in effect)
Commissioner Mika Milburn-Kee raised concerns about the complaint form and the process for handling noise complaints under Resolution 50-25, and said she wanted to review the form and the start-to-finish enforcement process with the county attorney. She cited prior difficulty completing enforcement on existing county sanitation codes as a reason to make sure the noise-resolution process would actually work. Commissioner Beerbower agreed. Changes to the resolution were tabled until the next meeting; Resolution 50-25 itself remained in effect. (story)
March 2, 2026 — County Attorney provides analysis of proposed amended resolution
At the March 2 regular meeting, County Attorney James Crux presented his analysis of the proposed amended noise resolution and identified several issues, according to the meeting minutes:
- It was unclear whether the resolution was intended as a general nuisance statute or as specific decibel-based violations.
- The listed decibel limits (55 dB during day, 45 dB at night) were characterized as “guidelines” rather than enforceable standards. Crux noted that 55 dB is approximately equivalent to light traffic or nearby conversation, and that 45 dB is comparable to a modern refrigerator.
- Enforcement would require a county codes inspector with proper training in criminal law and search procedures.
Commissioner Beerbower noted the resolution was intended to address ongoing noise complaints, including in the Xenia area, with additional complaints pending the resolution’s adoption. Commissioner Tran asked Crux to visit the Xenia site to hear the noise firsthand. Commissioner Gregg Motley suggested that civil enforcement might be more effective than criminal enforcement; Crux noted his review found insufficient grounds for criminal public-nuisance charges. Both Crux and County Counselor Johnson indicated that either criminal or civil enforcement would likely involve lengthy, contested litigation. The consensus expressed in the minutes was that affected landowners pursuing individual civil action might be the most practical approach — an option the Ranes plaintiffs had already taken three weeks earlier with their February 13 petition.
March 16 to April 27, 2026 — Motion to dismiss, response, and hearing
Counsel for Evolution Technology entered an appearance and filed a Motion to Dismiss on March 16. The Ranes plaintiffs filed their Response in Opposition on April 6. Return of service on Charles Rees was completed on April 14, perfecting service on both defendants. Judge Fisher held a hearing on the motion to dismiss at 9:00 AM on April 27. The docket reflects “Hearing Held — Motion.”
May 18, 2026 — First Amended Petition filed
On May 18 the Ranes plaintiffs filed a First Amended Petition — a five-page revision of the original four-page petition. The substantive changes are concentrated in newly added paragraphs 16–20 and a related argument throughout: between February 13 and May 18 the defendants temporarily stopped running the generators, and the amended petition invokes the voluntary cessation doctrine to argue that this tactical pause does not moot the case because the defendants retain full control of the equipment and have provided no legally binding assurance that the noise will not resume.
Key elements of the amended petition:
- Two claims: Count I — Private Nuisance; Count II — Negligence, including negligence per se for alleged violation of Bourbon County sound ordinances (Resolution 50-25).
- Alleged decibel levels: noise “in excess of 80 decibels (dB) and often exceeding 90 dB” on plaintiffs’ property, 24 hours a day.
- Alleged health effects: sleep deprivation, tinnitus, and other physical discomforts.
- Relief sought: a permanent injunction capping outdoor noise on plaintiffs’ land at 55 dB between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. and 45 dB between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. (mirroring the decibel limits used in the county’s Resolution 50-25 discussions), $1.00 in nominal damages, and a jury trial.
Source document: First Amended Petition — Ranes v. Evolution Technology and Rees (PDF). Two new alias summons were issued the same day.
Where things stand today
| Item | Status |
|---|---|
| 12-month cryptocurrency moratorium (October 14, 2025) | In effect through October 2026 |
| Resolution 50-25 (noise limitations) | Adopted December 15, 2025; remains in effect. Proposed amendments tabled February 24, 2026 and discussed March 2, 2026; no enforcement action taken to date. |
| Resolution 07-26 — 180-day industrial moratorium (utility power, crypto mining, data centers, waste disposal) | Adopted unanimously January 5, 2026; expires approximately July 4, 2026 unless extended. |
| Planning Commission’s broader proposed moratorium on all new non-agricultural businesses | Tabled November 17, 2025; never enacted. |
| Evotech bitcoin mine | Continues to be located at 668 Willow Rd, Mapleton; per the amended petition, generators were temporarily stopped between February and May 2026. |
| Ranes v. Evolution Technology, LLC and Charles Rees (BB-2026-CV-000013) | Active. First Amended Petition filed May 18, 2026. Defendants’ response to the amended petition is the next scheduled action. |
The dispute over the bitcoin mining operation has so far played out on three separate tracks: a county regulatory (the cryptocurrency moratorium, Resolution 50-25, and the broader industrial moratorium), a property-rights (the Ben Hall gas-well issue), and a private civil-tort lawsuit (the Ranes lawsuit). The county itself is not a party to the lawsuit.
FortScott.biz will continue to report on the lawsuit and related county actions as they develop.