Just as the coalition of Johnstown, Alexandria and Granville filed a plan with the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency on May 1 outlining how it can provide water and sewer service to parts of western and northwestern Licking County, officials in Jersey Township filed a lawsuit against the coalition.
The lawsuit, filed the same day in Licking County Common Pleas Court by the township and its administrator, Rob Platte, claims that “these entities conspired to take control of portions of Jersey Township through improper and unlawful closed-door meetings that violated Ohio’s Open Meetings Act” in a July 15, 2024, discussion about the coalition.
Jersey Township Trustee Dan Wetzel said in a release that the lawsuit is “about protecting our sovereignty. No political subdivision has the right to override the will of another’s voters. … Jersey Township has elected leaders for a reason, and we will not allow outside officials to usurp our authority or speak for our residents.”
Granville Village Manager Herb Koehler said Thursday that the coalition could supply water and sewer service to portions of Jersey Township – if requested by property owners – but the coalition is not seeking to “take control” of Jersey Township.
In a news release late Thursday, the municipalities said they “vigorously deny the allegations in the lawsuit.
“Contrary to what the complaint alleges, the City of Johnstown received a letter in early July 2024 from a Jersey Township trustee explicitly threatening litigation,” the release said.
Johnstown Mayor Donny Barnard said in the release that, “We remain committed to transparency, accountability, and serving the best interests of the residents of Johnstown. We are confident in the integrity of our city’s leadership and governance, and we trust that the court will dismiss this frivolous lawsuit.”
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Jersey Township is part of the rapidly growing area between New Albany on the west, Rt. 161 on the south and the City of Johnstown on the north, and Platte and the township are seeking an injunction against coalition members. Among the actions Jersey Township requests is for the court to invalidate a number of actions taken by members of the coalition after the July 15 meeting – including the Johnstown City Council’s approval of a comprehensive development plan during the July meeting.
In the Jersey Township news release, Platte questioned the motives of the coalition – suggesting it is to get more customers for financial gain rather than growth management. Platte did not immediately reply to a phone request for an interview but by text message Thursday night, he referred questions to the township’s attorney.
Tension between local government entities in western Licking County has been simmering for more than a year and is rooted in a debate over service areas for local utilities.
Members of the Johnstown-Alexandria-Granville coalition – known as the Municipal Utility Coalition of Licking County – have said for months that their goal is to offer an alternative to water and sewer services offered by the Licking Regional Water District, formerly known as the Southwest Licking Community Water and Sewer District.
The reason? Where utility lines are planted, development often grows. And coalition members say they want to manage growth according to their comprehensive development plans. And they have concerns that a stand-alone utility – one such as Licking Regional that is not managed by a specific municipality – will not fully consider development plans when installing lines.
“We’re not at all implying that Licking Regional doesn’t have a part in the future of western Licking County,” Koehler said Thursday. “They’ve been here for decades, and they have a place here. We think our service can complement what they offer to the benefit of all customers.”
But when the Licking County Commissioners voted in 2022 to expand the Licking Regional Water service area from about 8,000 acres in southwestern Licking County to 18,182 acres stretching to the north and east of its original service area, leaders from the coalition communities and surrounding townships became concerned about losing their ability to manage growth to their plans.
Their concerns intensified when Licking Regional Water bought about 100 acres along Rt. 161 in St. Albans Township and proposed a large sewage-treatment facility and a future water-treatment facility within a few miles of Alexandria and Granville.
That’s when the leaders began serious discussions about forming a utility coalition.
“Our Plan takes direct inspiration from the Licking County FRAMEWORK report,” Koehler said in a release Thursday, referring to a document developed by local governments, businesses, and residents to plan for future growth in western Licking County.
The report is full of recommendations “to maintain the values and sense of community that attracted our residents and is now attracting major businesses and investment,” Koehler said. “We want to encourage thoughtful, organic growth while ensuring that our local schools and other critical community needs are not neglected. 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.”
Alexandria Mayor Sean Barnes said in the coalition’s response to the lawsuit, “We value our partnership with Johnstown and Granville, especially in light of the growth that is coming to Licking County. Collaborations such as ours are necessary if we hope to positively shape the future of the region.”
Granville Mayor Melissa Hartfield said in the release that she is disappointed in the actions by Platte and Jersey Township. “I believe this is a deliberate attempt to distract us from working in the best interests of our constituents,” she said.
Soon after filing the lawsuit, Wetzel said Jersey Township officials “hope that this lawsuit can be resolved amicably.”
Johnstown Mayor Barnard said that “if Mr. Platte and Jersey Township are serious about a sustainable future, they could be part of the solution. Our door remains open.”
Alan Miller writes for TheReportingProject.org, the nonprofit news organization of Denison University’s Journalism program, which is supported by generous donations from readers. Sign up for The Reporting Project newsletter here.