Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District

A lawsuit has been filed and is seeking class action certification regarding a proposed 20-year, $270 million assessment plan. The case was filed in Tuscarawas County Common Pleas Court at New Philadelphia and claims the conservancy court violated Ohio's Open Meetings Act, commonly known as the Sunshine Law. Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District allegedly misused the executive session provision of the open meetings law by retiring to chambers for private deliberations for reasons other than those allowed. The only reasons a public body is allowed to go into executive session are personnel matters, sale or purchase of property, imminent court action, union negotiations with public employees, security arrangements for a public body, matters involving a county hospital, and matters which either federal or state law require to be confidential.