Stories of 2022: Communities angry over commissioners' deal with water, sewer district

Maria DeVito, Newark Advocate
·4 min read

As development pressure continues to build, the Licking County Commissioners' choice to extend the Southwest Licking Water and Sewer District service area angered township and community officials across western Licking County this fall.

Representatives from St. Albans, Monroe, Granville and Harrison townships, as well as Johnstown and Alexandria, came to the commissioners' Nov. 10 to vent their frustrations about the Oct. 6 decision and and ask why they weren't consulted before the deal was completed.

The amendment of a 2010 agreement between the commissioners and the district, expands the Southwest Licking service area for the Ohio 161 corridor from 8,769 acres to 18,223 acres. The expanded area includes 11,702 acres in Jersey Township, 3,439 in St. Albans Township and 3,041 acres in Monroe Township.

The previous service area map, amended in 2013, did not include any land in Monroe Township. The new map includes all of the township territory south of Duncan Plains Road, from the county line to Green Chapel Road.

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In Jersey Township, the new map covers all township land not already annexed into New Albany, which gets its water from the city of Columbus.

The district service area now extends east to Ohio 310, which lies in St. Albans Township. The new area includes Ohio 310 from just north of Ohio 161 to Ohio 37, and now runs the entire western edge of St. Albans Township.

The service area for Southwest Licking Water and Sewer District, following an Oct. 6 agreement with the Licking County Commissioners. The agreement increased the district's Ohio 161 service area from 8,769 acres to 18,223 acres, with 11,702 acres in Jersey Township, 3,439 in St. Albans Township and 3,041 acres in Monroe Township.
The service area for Southwest Licking Water and Sewer District, following an Oct. 6 agreement with the Licking County Commissioners. The agreement increased the district's Ohio 161 service area from 8,769 acres to 18,223 acres, with 11,702 acres in Jersey Township, 3,439 in St. Albans Township and 3,041 acres in Monroe Township.

Monroe Township Trustee Troy Hendren said the commissioners told the townships they need to plan and coordinate, all while they were secretly working against the townships. He said the move sets townships back.

“We’re one step above volunteers. We depend on our commissioners for advice, guidance, and so forth. Not stabbing us in the back like this. Maybe you didn’t intentionally do that, but that’s how it feels.”

Representatives for Alexandria and Johnstown argued the expansion prevents their municipalities from expanding their own services.

Alexandria Mayor Jim Jasper said the village has not grown like it was anticipated when it put in a sewer plant about 15 years ago and the same 200 houses are making payments on the $4.5 million load. But the upcoming growth may provide an opportunity.

The Southwest Licking Water and Sewer District Service area in the Ohio 161 corridor, updated in 2013 and unchanged until the commissioners agreed to extend the district's service area on Oct. 6.
The Southwest Licking Water and Sewer District Service area in the Ohio 161 corridor, updated in 2013 and unchanged until the commissioners agreed to extend the district's service area on Oct. 6.

"And now that it’s a viable possibility, we’re concerned we’re being shut out. That loan is a hardship on those residents. If we get completely blocked in, it will forever be a hardship."

Johnstown, just one mile north of the Intel development, is expanding its water and sewer plants, paying for an aquifer study and just put up a new water tower. The area between the city limits and Intel was a big part of the plans, Service Director Jack Liggett said. He said the design for the water treatment facility went from 1 million gallons a day to 2 million gallons so the city could be part of future development.

Rob Platte, who at the time was Pataskala's representative on the SWLCWSD board, said if Johnstown was planning to serve the area, it should have pursued annexation with the property owners. Platte, who is also Jersey Township's administrator, was not reappointed by Pataskala when his utility board term expired in November. Pataskala City Council opted to appoint Melissa Carter, a former council member who resigned the night before applications were due on Dec. 6.

Jersey Township Trustee Dan Wetzel said during the November commissioners' meeting the utility board was the only option for his township to prevent further annexation by New Albany.

"The main agenda is to get income back in the township and stop this annexation. We need to maximize income instead of New Albany getting it all. We need some commercial development. It makes sense to have Southwest Licking."

Johnstown City Councilman Bob Orsini said at one of the body's November meetings the expanded area will destroy Johnstown if it's allowed to remain in place.

"The end result will be 20 to 30 years down the road a town in shambles because they have no reason for revenue-generating companies to get involved with them," he said. "We've got enough things to manage and work through. This is not just an overreach, this will bury our town. This will take all the opportunity for future revenue away."

mdevito@gannett.com

740-607-2175

Twitter: @MariaDeVito13

This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: Stories of 2022: Communities angry over county deal with utility district