Pickerington Area Taxpayers Alliance

Something doesn't add up

I think it is very important to consider that Bob Harding is no longer in the area. In 2001, Bob Harding and his associate editor published a PATA newsletter that regularly pointed out the short comings of the Pickerington City government. I have cut and pasted a number of those posting associated with the CEDA talks in 2001 above.

It is very interesting to now note that Jeff Fix was the editor of this newsletter. Clearly he used his own advice and failed to deliver an agreement.

It is also very apparent that Bob Harding?’s bias and friendship with the township did show up in a non objective approach to the reporting of Pickerington Area news. Clearly we will never know the City officials side to this standoff and we must also take into account that the former Mayor Hughes was an easy target.

However easy target or not a whole new crew is in place at the Pickerington City Hall. Still the City is firmly rejected from a CEDA agreement. Clearly the township has allowed Canal Winchester to annex without resistance. The fact also remains that the Canal Point is 100% tax abated so the income to the Violet Township Fire department does not increase despite the fact of huge increases in property valuation. In exchange for abating the taxes the Township does get service payments of I think 20% of the Canal income tax revenues.

None of these benefits got to the City of Pickerington?’s water and sewer users and their fees. Without water from Pickerington this Canal Point would have never been developed.

As Mr. Hackworth points out the widening of Diley Road does provide added access to their commercial park.

Judging by the registered voters in the unincorporated Township and those voting from the City it appears that 41% of the Township Trustees constituency live and vote from the City.

Who you goin call?

One of the purposes on this PATA group was to develop that neighborly cooperation that we all have heard so much about over the last few years. Mainly the group consisted of township residents banning together to complain to the voters about the mis-deeds of the Pickerington City government. In response to the grass roots effects of this web site and many of the people behind the scenes the entire Pickerington City government was replaced in 2003 and 2005.

Despite being left with a huge inventory of approved building lots in the City, the new City government has moved forward to correct many of the complaints leveled at the previous City government. It is probably premature to say that the tasks are completed but I think we can say that great strides have been made toward addressing the citizens concerns of 2003.

I can't speak for the mind set of the Pickerington City government but last year they did enter into negotiations with Canal Winchester and Violet Township. Apparently those talks ended in a total failure. Former Township resident and PATA expert on cooperation Jeff Fix still wants to keep the talks alive. Judging by the public comments in the Dispatch article it appears some of the City's NEW COUNCIL members are seeing the light and the fact that the Township will never come to the table with Pickerington.

It is clear that Violet Township will continue to expect actions from the City of Pickerington that they do not expect from Canal Winchester. So the question we all must ask is what has changed since 2001 and what has remained the same?

ARE THE TOWNSHIP TRUSTEES REALLY REPRESENTING IN GOOD FAITH THE 10,000 REGISTERED VOTERS IN THE CITY OF PICKERINGTON?