As the demand for water and sewer grows, Licking County's only regional utility is expanding its reach to accommodate future growth.
The Southwest Licking Community Water and Sewer District is making sweeping changes to the district, including inviting Union and Jersey townships to join its formal service area as well as its board of trustees, taking the board from three to five members. The communities currently do not have access to municipal water and sewer service.
This is the latest move comes as the area is expected to see potentially dramatic growth with the construction of the $28 billion Intel facility just south of Johnstown on Jersey Township land annexed into New Albany. The district is also planning for a wastewater treatment plant in St. Albans Township to handle the anticipated growth.
The district's three board members unanimously approved the changes Thursday, but this is just the beginning on a lengthy process. Executive Director Jim Roberts said in a Friday interview that the Licking County Common Pleas Court must ultimately approve changes to the district's governance.
"It is a little scary for us to consider expanding the board," board member Larry Kretzmann, who is Harrison Township's appointee, said during the Thursday meeting. "But we're not here forever. We're here to manage the water and sewer district as best we can, and this is what we collectively think is the best way to go."
Since its founding in 1989, the district has served Etna and Harrison townships and what previously was Lima Township, now part of Pataskala.
"This is a flagship moment in the history of Southwest Licking water and sewer as we grow and expand to provide the services that are needed in a lot of areas of Licking County that can't get service otherwise, and we're excited to be moving forward in this direction," Roberts said Friday.
Roberts said it's very difficult to have a three-person board because it's a quorum any time two of them are together. By having more members, there can be more collaboration through committees, Roberts said.
Union and Jersey townships have economic partnerships with the district. The utility district is providing water and sanitary sewer to the area around the Ohio 37 and U.S. 40 intersection as part of an economic agreement between Union Township, the district and the city of Heath. Jersey Township is in the process of crafting similar economic development agreements, but Roberts said the township and utility district have already agreed the district will be included in those economic agreements.
As part of those agreements, Robert said there will be revenue sharing with SWLCWSD to cover the cost of line extensions to those areas because development won't occur without water and sewer availability.
"They're the ones that are aggressively trying to promote good development; and so while still trying to protect our legacy district, if you will, our expansion is clearly heading in those two directions," Roberts said Friday. "It makes sense for them to have a say in the direction of the future of the district."
Jersey Township Trustee Dan Wetzel said Friday that the township officially being part of the utility district is crucial as Jersey officials continue to plan for future development. The two entities will work together to determine where future utility lines will go, he said.
"There's absolutely no way we could do it without their help. Southwest sewer and water is the key factor for the growth in the township to be controlled by the township so we can control our destiny, control the growth," he said.
Union Township Trustee Roger Start said Friday the Union trustees have not discussed joining the district formally. Start and Roberts said the township and district will together determine the footprint of the district's Union Township service area.
In addition to adding members, the district is also changing eligibility requirements and length of members' terms. Going forward, appointees from all five jurisdictions must live in the community they represent but not be an elected official or employee of that community and be eligible for district services.
Since the district's founding, board terms have been three years and were staggered with one term ending every November, Roberts said. Once the changes are approved, four-year terms will begin on Jan. 1 with new appointments staggered over a four-year cycle, and a term starting every year except for one year where Harrison's and Jersey's appointments will start.
The three current board members will continue to serve their three-year terms. Kretzman's term is up this November, and Roberts said the district will work with the township to extend Kretzman's first until Jan. 1 when the new four-year term will begin. The same will happen when the seats are up for Pataskala's Melissa Carter and Etna Township's Trent Stepp in 2025 and 2026, respectively.
Board members earn $19,177 this year, and the district allows for a 5% increase each year.
As part of the changes, the district will also change its name. Roberts said the current name is clunky and while it was a good name when the district started in 1989, the district's territory has roughly doubled.
"We are much more than just sort of southwest Licking County now," he said. "We are a regional water and sewer district, so the word community almost sort of feels underwhelming."
A new name has not yet been decided. Roberts said district staff as well as an outside consulting firm will work on that in coming months.
mdevito@gannett.com
740-607-2175
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