Event
Landowner Meeting: Land Use and Water System Projects
Jul 29, 2025 | 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Date/Time
Date(s) - July 29, 2025
6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Location
Categories
Licking County Farm Bureau members are invited to attend a special briefing focusing on land use and utility-scale water system projects. The program will be held at the Utica Church of Christ on Tuesday, July 29, 2025, at 6:30 pm.
The program will be facilitated by Dale Arnold, Ohio Farm Bureau Federation director of energy, utility and local government policy.
“Farmers and rural neighbors are being asked to get involved in a variety of planning decisions concerning utility-scale water development in the county.” Arnold said. He noted these projects could include expansion of service lines and upgrades with current water utilities, as well as construction of new systems in rural areas.
Water access and management is becoming a major issue impacting consumers, landowners and local governments. During the briefing, Arnold will discuss reasonable use and riparian doctrines, surface and groundwater access as well as requirements to establish public and private water distribution networks.
“Representatives from water service providers are contacting county residents. Many folks have a number of questions and concerns,” said Kayla Jones, senior organization director of the Licking County Farm Bureau. “We understand that these service providers are requesting to work with landowners to conduct preliminary surveys and environmental evaluations across farm ground.”
Farm Bureau has been working with the Licking County SWCD, local governments and community stakeholders to create a 30-year development plan for these types of issues. Farm, residential and local business requirements need to be addressed in all development projects before any initiatives go forward. Current federal and state regulations governing water system development ensure that local communities are part of the process.
This briefing is one of several the Licking County Farm Bureau Public Policy Action Team sponsors on utility development issues impacting the area. The organization will be working to sponsor additional briefings where residents can meet project developers as well as representatives of regulatory agencies governing energy infrastructure development to examine issues and share concerns. Locally, over 1,000 member families belong to the Licking County Farm Bureau.
