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Why are Jersey Township officials so opposed to this merger?
Why are Jersey Township officials so opposed to this merger?
Jersey Township trustees have taken action to formally speak out against the merger between St. Albans Township and the Village of Alexandria, going so far as to pass a motion in their September 11 special meeting stating their opposition. Let's be clear -- Our community deserves the right to choose its own path and Jersey Township trustees have no business interfering in that decision.
Jersey Township’s opposition isn’t about protecting farmland or rural character. It’s about protecting control — over lucrative development like the Four Corners area and the impact of the Licking Regional Water District’s (LRWD) proposed Moots Run Wastewater Plant.
The truth is, the new Village wants responsible growth too — just with local oversight, farmland preservation, and fair tax distribution. Jersey could choose to collaborate on a plan that benefits everyone. Instead, they seem determined to keep the residents of St. Albans Township divided, dependent, and easy to outmaneuver.
Right now, the power in western Licking County runs one way -- outward.
LRWD controls the utilities. New Albany directs the economics and design through its CEDA with Jersey and the proposed Four Corners JEDD — gaining income tax revenue and influence without annexing an acre. Jersey Township acts as the broker between them, aligning with those regional players to maintain leverage and revenue. Meanwhile, St. Albans Township bears the impact — traffic, infrastructure, and fire calls — but has no legal power to shape what gets built or how it’s paid for.
A merger changes that.
When St. Albans Township and Alexandria unite, the result is a full municipality under ORC 703.01 with home-rule authority under Article XVIII, Section 3 of the Ohio Constitution. That means control over zoning, utilities, and revenue — LRWD and New Albany can no longer make decisions inside our borders without consent. We’d finally have a seat at the table, not just a bill to pay.
Of course Jersey Township wouldn’t want that — it flips the balance of power they currently enjoy.
Their development partners have made their intentions clear:
“Mr. Roberts said the growth model gives us sanitary sewer authority over 3 new townships to the north, Jersey, St. Albans and Monroe Township… water will typically follow sewer… the flows are going to triple… St. Albans Township is not an active partner of ours yet, but we are building a plant in their township so we will be partners with them in some form.”
“The Raccoon Wastewater Treatment Center remains the district’s top infrastructure priority…”
“Mr. Platte will reach out to the other townships in the four corners area to work on developing this area.”
“Mr. Plate provided an overview of this overlay at the intersection of SR161 and SR310… There is proposed commercial on the east side of SR310 in St. Albans Township.”
“Roberts said… everyone is thinking we’d be the service provider for that area, and then along the 161 corridor.”
They’ve openly said that development follows sewer — and LRWD’s next target is St. Albans Township. No wonder anti-merger messaging is coming from that direction. A unified village would derail their plans.
“I appreciate New Albany’s willingness to share its best practices with Jersey Township,” one Jersey trustee said. “I hope that other townships see the potential for New Albany to be a valuable community partner…”
That tells you exactly where their loyalties lie.
This merger is our opportunity to take back control — to plan our own growth, protect our rural character, and ensure growth pays for growth. Alexandria already exists as a willing municipal partner, offering protections that Jersey Township never had. Together, we can safeguard our identity and our future.
Vote YES — for local control, for fair growth, and for a community that answers to itself, not to outsiders.
Sources:
https://www.jerseytownship.us/.../NEW-ALBANY-JERSEY...
https://www.jerseytownship.us/pdf/Minutes-BOT-09-03-25.pdf
https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-703.01
https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-6111.03
https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-6111.03
https://www.lickingregionalwater.gov/.../0ee9b7...
https://www.lickingregionalwater.gov/.../0ee9b7...
https://www.lickingregionalwater.gov/.../0ee9b7...
https://www.jerseytownship.us/pdf/Minutes-BOT-07-23-25.pdf
https://www.thereportingproject.org/ohio-epa-approves...
https://www.lickingregionalwater.gov/.../licking-regional...
https://www.thereportingproject.org/licking-county.../
https://www.jerseytownship.us/.../Four-Corners-IGA-Draft...
https://ontrac.lickingcounty.gov/
https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-constitution/section-18.4
https://www.jerseytownship.us/.../Zoning-Comprehensive...
https://newalbanyohio.org/.../18-03-06-WLCA-Final-Adopted...
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Passive income that is not acquired through work or business activities is considered "unearned" income.
Examples of unearned income include inheritance money and interest or dividends earned from investments.
Tax rates on unearned income are different from rates on earned income.
While unearned income may supplement earned income before retirement, it often becomes the primary source of income in retirement years.
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