Landowners Invited to Water System Project Planning Meeting

By Andi Anderson

Licking County Farm Bureau members are invited to a special briefing focused on land use and water system development projects. The meeting will take place on Tuesday, July 29, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. at the Utica Church of Christ.

The event will be led by Dale Arnold, director of energy, utility, and local government policy at the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation. He will guide the conversation on utility-scale water systems, including expanding current utilities, building new water infrastructure, and conducting environmental assessments on rural farmland.

Arnold will also explain riparian and reasonable use doctrines, surface and groundwater access, and the steps required to establish public and private water networks. These water-related issues are growing in importance for landowners, farmers, consumers, and local governments across the county.

According to Kayla Jones, senior organization director of the Licking County Farm Bureau, landowners are being approached by water service providers for surveys and evaluations. The briefing aims to answer questions and offer clarity before any projects begin.

The Farm Bureau is also collaborating with the Licking County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD), local governments, and community groups on a 30-year development plan to ensure fair treatment of farm, residential, and business needs during infrastructure planning.

The event is part of a series hosted by the Public Policy Action Team to keep members informed about local utility development. Future briefings will include opportunities to meet project developers and regulatory officials to discuss concerns and share feedback.

More than 1,000 families in the area are members of the Licking County Farm Bureau, showing strong interest in how local infrastructure projects will shape the region’s rural future.

Photo Credit: gettyimages-zoran-zeremski