Pickerington Area Taxpayers Alliance

Over the last week or so I have been looking at some quotes from our elected leaders about different issues. I am wondering if others are picking up the same spin that I am?

The first quotes are from the Southeast messenger:

Pickerington wrangles with proposal for paper township
August 14, 2006

By Katelyn Sattler
Staff Writer

?“Violet Township Trustee Gary Weltlich said forming a paper township is not a new idea.
?“Under (former city manager Joyce) Bushman it was found to be not cost-effective,?” said Weltlich. ?“Since, under the new state law, some boundaries cannot be conformed, what happens to the non-paper township residents? It?’s an administrative nightmare. Questions will come up at the polling places: who can vote on Violet Township issues??” ?“

DOES ANYONE BELIEVE JOYCE BUSHMAN WOULD HAVE SHARED HER STUDY WITH GARY WELTLICH?

?“Violet Township Trustee Terry Dunlap commented, ?“If the township trustees agreed to contract fire services to Pickerington, it could change their ISO rating. Pickerington residents could watch their fire insurance (rates) double, in some cases.?” ?“

DOES ANYONE BELIEVE TERRY DUNLAP KNOWS ANYTHING ABOUT THE ISO RATING?

?“Violet Township actually has a split ISO rating of 3/9. The lower the number the more favorable for lower homeowner?’s insurance rates. The rating of 9 is in areas where there are no hydrants within 1,000 feet of a structure, according to Dave Dasgupta, ISO spokesperson. As a comparison, Columbus, Pickerington and Canal Winchester have a rating of 3; Reynoldsburg has a rating of 4.?”

APPARENTLY MR. DUNLAP IS TRYING TO BAFFLE THE FOLKS WITH B.S.

These comments for the 08/23/06 Times-Sun:

City, township officials are looking to hold JEDD meeting in September
By DAVID S. OWEN

?“As Mayor David Shaver was preparing to seek a motion to adjourn Pickerington City Council's meeting Aug. 15, Council President Brian Wisniewski made a motion to establish a public meeting to be held between the city and the Violet Township Board of Trustees to discuss issues surrounding the two government entities' involvement in creating a possible Joint Economic Development District.?”

CHECK MATE:


?“At the Aug. 1 City Council meeting, Violet Township Trustee Gary Weltlich asked council about the status of the JEDD the township had invited the city to participate in.?”


DID THE TOWNSHIP TRUSTEES ACTUALLY SEND A JEDD PROPOSAL TO THE CITY?


,'' Wisniewski said.
''It's non-controversial, it's outside of our city borders and it's not surrounded by city residents, so let's get going with it,''

APPARENTLY THE COUNCIL HAS NOT SEEN A JEDD PROPOSAL AS OF THE AUGUST 15TH MEETING.

?“I am working on a comprehensive economic development plan program agreement with the township, and Brian is talking about a JEDD, and it surprised all of us that he called for that public meeting with the trustees,'' Fix said.?”


JEFF YOU VOTED IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION.


''When we receive that notification I'd like to see every councilman's name on it so no one can claim they didn't know about it,'' Dunlap said.?”


HERE WE HAVE MR. DUNLAP QUESTIONING THE CREDIBILITY OF THE CITY.



Council requests open meetings with township
Thursday, August 24, 2006
By SEAN CASEY
ThisWeek Staff Writer


Pickerington City Council wants to bring negotiations of a possible joint development agreement with Violet Township to the public.
At its Aug. 15 meeting, council invited township trustees to schedule an open work session on further cooperative talks regarding a five-acre parcel at 10200 Busey Road, where a construction company wants to build its offices.

I was miss-quoted; really! cont.

MORE FROM THE PICKERINGTON THIS WEEK:

Council requests open meetings with township
Thursday, August 24, 2006
By SEAN CASEY
ThisWeek Staff Writer


''I think it's critical for public officials to conduct business in public,'' Wisniewski said. ''It adds credibility to the process and lessens the suspicion of what happens behind closed doors.''

BRIAN ;IT MIGHT ALSO STOP THE CRAP OF SPREADING MIS-INFORMATION AROUND THE COMMUNITY (AS POINTED OUT ABOVE) IN AN EFFORT TO GAIN SOME KIND OF POLITICAL ADVANTAGE.

?“Dunlap is concerned that negotiating such agreements with citizens on hand would have the opposite effect. Based on past experiences as an elected official, Dunlap said residents can sometimes misinterpret the proceedings or stipulations involved in a negotiated agreement and become overly worried about issues they may not possess all the imperative information about?”


APPARENTLY MR. DUNLAP HAS A LOT OF EXPERIENCE IN KEEPING THINGS FROM THE PUBLIC. JUST LIKE WHAT HE KNOWS ABOUT THE ISO RATINGS.

?“Similarly, Fix said scheduling negotiations in front of residents could retard the process.
''There is certainly a time or place for public meetings, but I don't think we have reached that point with this yet,'' he said. ''I don't think that it's healthy to hammer out an agreement with the public sitting right there and with the press writing down your every word.

''No business does that and no government does that,'' he added.?”

MR. FIX; BUSINESS IS NOT HELD TO THE SAME STANDARDS AS GOVERNEMNT. AFTER SEVEN AND A HALF MONTHS I WOULD HAVE HOPED YOU WOULD HAVE PICKED THAT UP ALONG THE WAY.

New Rules

Memorandum to the press

It has been brought to our attention that certain reporters (basically all of them) have been questioning what we tell you. It also appears that there seems to be those in our government that continue to contradict the rulers of our land.

It was determined last night, after dark, in a seedy bar located near the center of our world (that?’s code for our meetings are none of your business) that we will exercise our home rule status.

Until further notice we will meet when we want and where we want. Since we are home rule in the township and home rule in the city we will not consider the state sunshine laws and we will meet after dark so they simply don?’t apply to us.

Until further notice we will not allow the elected leaders of the Council and the Board of Trustees to talk with the home rule law directors. Only questions put forth by the designated members of these home rule governments will be allowed to move forward. Selling out the City and or the Township or the school district can?’t be done if everyone has access to legal counsel.

Also these same elected officials will no longer be allowed to speak to anyone outside of their immediate families. Having differences of opinion only adds to the confusion in and around City Hall. It is our position that ONE spokesman will report to the press for both the City and the Township. This will cut down on the, he said, he said issues.

We had a special election last week and the City voters approved a charter amendment that calls for all future ordinances and resolutions to be passed by emergency and they will all be on the consent agenda. This saves time and it makes your job much easier. We will have one reading and the agenda will be posted for the public after the meeting. The citizens all realize the importance in getting a efficient operating City government. As former business men on council know in the private sector we are not hampered by these restrictions.

This anointed spokesman will provide the press with their respective statements and help with writing your articles in the paper. This is for your convenience. We hope you understand.

In the name of good government,

Sincerely,

The Grand Potentate of the Township and your Royal Emperor of the City.




By T.I.C.

Remember this quote??

WE WERE ELECTED TO RUN THIS CITY THE WAY WE WANT TO.