07-05-2025
Licking County governments in legal fight over proposal to address growth
GRANVILLE, Ohio (WCMH) — Licking County municipalities are at odds over control of resources as development shakes up small Ohio communities.
Johnstown, Alexandria and Granville united under the Municipal Utility Coalition of Licking County, a water and wastewater treatment coalition intended to give the local governments more control amid rapid development. On May 1, the coalition announced a services plan and submitted it to the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency for review. The same day, Jersey Township sued the coalition for allegedly developing the plan out of the public eye, and some residents worry the plan will raise taxes.
The coalition proposed short- and long-term solutions for centralized wastewater treatment in west and northwest Licking County. The plan accounts for the significant growth the area is projected to see and expands water treatment system capacity. If approved by the Ohio EPA, it would cost $108.3 million over the next five years, and $327.5 million over the next 20 years.
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Jersey Township and Township Administrator Rob Platte sued the coalition governments, alleging the utility proposal was discussed in violation of the Open Meetings Act by discussing the plan in executive sessions without public input. Jersey Township and Platte are asking for $500 per violation and for all decisions made in those meetings to be declared invalid.
According to the complaint, the governments discussed the utility plan without reflecting those discussions in official meeting minutes. Platte and Jersey Township allege the other governments entered executive session for 'imminent court action' but instead discussed the utilities plan, violating public meeting law.
Granville, Johnstown and Alexandria mayors 'vigorously' denied the lawsuit's allegations. The mayors also said a Jersey Township trustee threatened litigation against the city of Johnstown in July 2024, which city leaders said contradicted claims made in the lawsuit.
'If Mr. Platte and Jersey Township are serious about a sustainable future they could be part of the solution. Our door remains open,' Johnstown Mayor Donny Barnard said.
Major tech developments from companies like Google, Intel and Amazon are helping spur rapid growth in western Licking County. In November, Granville Village Manager Herb Koehler said the Coalition was formed to give local municipalities a seat at the table amid development. Koehler said the utility coalition prioritizes community needs in important discussions about growth.
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Jersey Township is not covered by the Municipal Utility Coalition and instead gets its water services from the Licking Regional Water District. This year, the Licking Regional Water District expanded its board of trustees, including a new representative from Jersey Township.
Jersey Township is not the only Licking County organization concerned with the utility expansion proposal. The Licking County Conservatives spoke out against the plan on Facebook, fearing it could invite even more development or drive municipalities to bankruptcy. The group also condemned the Coalition's delay in presenting the plan to the public.
The Coalition disagrees, saying the plan will allow affordable, locally controlled resources amid development. Koehler said the new water plan was based on the Licking County FRAMEWORK report, which was developed by local residents, businesses and governments to balance growth while maintaining local character.
'We want to encourage thoughtful, organic growth while ensuring that our local schools and other critical community needs are not neglected,' Koehler said. 'Our 'inside-out' approach will allow us to increase treatment capacity and construct centralized sewers as the need arises, allowing us to keep sewer rates affordable.'
The lawsuit is pending in Licking County Common Pleas Court. The Coalition's plan awaits feedback from the Ohio EPA, after which the Coalition will submit a final plan the the agency. Once the final version is submitted, the Ohio EPA will make a recommendation to the Governor's office, which will then request approval from the national EPA.
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