Licking County governments unite to control resources amid rapid development

GRANVILLE, Ohio (WCMH) – Three western Licking County governments have formalized a joint utility coalition to help advance growth in the region without compromising its rural neighborhoods. 

Granville, Alexandria and Johnstown governments have renamed their collaborative water and wastewater services, which supplies utilities to more than 12,000 western Licking County residents and workers. Formerly JAG, the Municipal Utility Coalition of Licking County was renamed on Nov. 6 to help formalize the collaboration as it competes with other providers and tries to preserve Licking County’s resources. The communities sit north and east of the massive Intel One computer chip fabrication plants under construction in New Albany.

In its announcement, the coalition called out corporate service providers. It said other utility providers are focused on profits and expansion, whereas the coalition's government backing means residents' water and wastewater services are managed by the same people who are concerned with regional growth, wellbeing and infrastructure.

"Our Coalition seeks to ensure developers that we will exist to facilitate, and not hamper, growth that is responsible and aligned with community needs and desires," Herb Koehler, Granville Village manager, said.

Koehler said the coalition’s rebrand will not change any service levels or rates in the communities. Rather, Koehler said it will allow the coalition to have more credibility when working with state officials and agencies.

Among the competitors the coalition referenced is the Licking Regional Water District, which also recently rebranded. Formerly the Southwest Licking Community Water and Sewer District, the organization will complete its rebranding efforts in January.

Licking Regional Water Executive Director Jim Roberts said the rebrand also shifts the makeup of the Board of Trustees, expanding it from three members to five and requiring all members to live where they are eligible for Licking Regional Water’s services. Licking Regional Water serves more than 6,700 water customers and more than 7,000 wastewater customers in Pataskala, Etna Township, Harrison Township and now Jersey Township, which was announced with the rebranding. Intel's property is in Jersey Township.

Both the Coalition and Licking Regional Water are preparing for the rapid growth western Licking County is experiencing, in large part thanks to developments like Ohio's Intel plant. The presidential transition has raised questions about federal funding for Intel, but both Koehler and Roberts said they have yet to hear anything specific that would halt the development.

Licking Regional Water’s Raccoon Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant is a proposed treatment plant to address this growth. The plant would discharge into Moots Run, a small tributary to Raccoon Creek. Alexandria and Granville rely on Raccoon Creek for water, and locals have raised concerns about the environmental impact the plant could have. Roberts clarified this Raccoon Creek is separate from the Raccoon Creek Gov. Mike DeWine designated as Ohio's 16th scenic river on Nov. 12.

Roberts said Licking Regional Water plans to resubmit for a permit from the Ohio EPA next month. More than 200 Licking County residents opposed to the plant attended a permit hearing in July, after which the Ohio EPA gave Licking Regional Water comments on their application. 

“We plan to have a discussion with OEPA to ensure we fully understand all of the comments, and then we will finalize and submit our updated permit application,” Roberts said. “We intend to have this completed before the end of the year.”

While Granville, Johnstown and Alexandria locals have spoken out against Licking County Regional's proposed plant, many institutions in those towns have voiced support for the Coalition's rebrand. Leaders with the Johnstown-Monroe and Granville Exempted Village school districts have released statements in favor of the Coalition's growth, as has Denison University President Adam Weinberg.