GRANVILLE, Ohio (WCMH) — As Licking County readies itself for growth, two local companies are fighting for control over utility services and asking the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency for help.

The Municipal Utility Coalition of Licking County was formed by the governments of Granville, Johnstown and Alexandria to allow local control over water and wastewater services as Intel and other development projects flood the largely rural county. The rest of western Licking County is primarily serviced by the Licking Regional Water District (LRWD), another local organization providing services dating to 1989. Now, the two utility companies are fighting to control resources and for the right to operate with the Ohio EPA’s blessing.

LRWD sent a letter to the EPA in February asking the agency to affirm LRWD’s control over water and wastewater services in its approved areas and challenging the Municipal Utility Coalition’s authority to operate. On May 15, the Coalition filed a formal response with the EPA rebutting LRWD’s letter and arguing it should be the primary provider for much of the same area LRWD seeks to control.

LRWD argues the Coalition is not working within the established utility framework of the area and alleges it does not have the authority to achieve its goals. LRWD said the Coalition does not have the capacity or financial capability to successfully serve the area.

“(The Coalition’s) obstructionist tactics and misleading claims run counter to the state’s goals of providing clear, stable and efficient infrastructure planning,” LRWD executive director Jim Roberts said. “Their legal challenges and duplicative planning efforts create unnecessary uncertainty for businesses, developers, and communities that rely on predictable and well-coordinated infrastructure investments.”

The Coalition argued LRWD’s nearest wastewater treatment plant is miles away from several townships in the area and that LRWD has much more debt than the Coalition. The Coalition said it has the support of local school districts and Denison University and argued its services were less expensive for residents.

“LRWD’s plan and actions demonstrate that it wants to encourage a one-size-fits-all development approach that is faster paced and with higher density levels than what is desired in this part of Licking County,” Herb Koehler, Granville village manager, said.

Both organizations accuse the other of being incapable of properly serving customers in the area, and of misleading the EPA about each other.

The move comes shortly after neighboring Jersey Township sued the Coalition and the governments behind it for allegedly developing the plan without proper public oversight. The Ohio EPA has not issued a formal decision for either party.