Pickerington Area Taxpayers Alliance

While I read the PATA website and even post a comment or two from time to time, I tend to hold my tongue on the major issues in Pickerington. Granted, I post comments and topics under my own name and by doing so, I?’m clearly in the minority. That being said, I?’m asking that you read what I have to say and just think about what your next steps should be. You can choose to respond with anger or you can take this opportunity to do something and make your voice heard. Call, email or knock on the door of your elected council members or trustees and offer your insight. I?’m certain that each of them would welcome the comments.

Our local government is currently struggling with the issue of cooperation and economic development. I?’m very concerned to find our elected leaders so polarized by this issue that they are unable to see the other side?’s viewpoint. I was shocked when I read the transcript of the last council meeting. To the council members I ask, how did you get to this point? I believe that each and every one of you ran a campaign based upon getting along and working together. There is no evidence what so ever that any of you are doing that at this point. I have served on the city?’s Planning and Zoning commission for almost 3 years and I?’m thrilled each and every time the topic of economic development is discussed. We need this in Pickerington in the form of businesses rather than houses. How we get development here needs to be carefully considered.

Brian, I believe that you are a man of integrity. I find you to be a very genuine person. I?’ve reviewed your findings regarding the proposed cooperation agreement with the township. You have clearly worked very hard in developing this document and you are to be commended. I would ask that you continue to maintain the highest level of cooperation and communication befitting a council president.

Jeff, I also believe that you are genuine and have nothing but the best interests of the community in mind. Please continue to work with Brian in order to reach a middle ground to hash out this issue. I think that you would agree that it?’s better for all parties involved to agree with the proposed economic development plan rather than have two sides galvanized against one another. Terry Dunlap has already stated publicly that there is no rush on the part of the township in order to get this agreement in place so it would seem that we have time to work out the key issues.

Township Trustees and Mayor Shaver, clearly you are all in the middle of this issue. From where I sit, it?’s apparent that it is up to each of you to bring the council members together in an effort to find a cooperative agreement. You have a choice to make. Either do everything in your power as the leaders of this community to find a solution or sit back and watch as the elected officials make a mockery of Pickerington for all the world to see.

Question

Mr. Kramer,

I appreciate your openness and suggestions for coming back together. I also recall you ran for council against Fix and that you had more than your share of concerns with him during his contentious tenure on your commission.

Let me ask your honest opinion on another subject.

Do you feel it is appropriate for elected officials and top level management from the city to meet until all hours in a bar?

Do you feel it is appropriate to have a quorum of two different committees meet outside the public eye?

Do you feel that the addition of a township trustee who is heavily involved in this city controversy contributed or detracted from the controversy?

Would you ever in your life believe these law breakers if they told you that the bar binge was purely social and absolutely no city or township business was discussed as the drinks flowed?

Thank you in advance for your thoughts.

I did vote for you, by the way.

Answer

First of all, I'd like to thank you for your vote a year ago. I just wish that there had been a few hundred more of you.

Jeff and I did have some ''issues'' in the past. But he apologized for his remarks and I feel that a profound measure of what makes a man is someone that is willing to stand up, admit they're wrong and apologize. Jeff did that I think that we have moved on. I have not forgotten what he did, but I'm able to forgive.

In regards to the visit to a local drinking establishment by council members and trustees. I feel that this is one of those areas that opens up Pandoras Box. Once it's done, not much good is going to come of it and it'll be tough to get it closed again. Do I think that it's wrong for elected officials to meet outside of meetings? City matters belong in the public eye. But we live in a pretty small town so it's going to be tough to avoid each other all the time. Should they call each other to inform whether they plan on going to Krogers or Giant Eagle for hot dog buns in an effort to avoid all being in the same place at the same time? Of course not, that's silly.

On the other hand, I do understand what you're getting at regarding what happened the other night. That likely was not the best idea to go to a bar following such a heated discussion. If for no other reason, it certainly gave the impression that we find ourselves in a ''our side against your side'' situation does in fact exist at City Hall.

You're avoiding the real issue

Tory,

I think you are underestimating the depth of this situation. You see a group hug as the solution to something that has been brewing for several years, much longer then your three years on planning and zoning. What you see is the result of years of manipulation of good people and good people gone awry. Hopefully no one has coerced you and is manipulating you much like they did during the notorious endorsement process you had to endure. I was privy to conversations with screening committee people and I can tell you that they played you like a harp. That is not a personal attack by me on you, simply information because at that point in your political career, you were a lamb led into the hungry lions?’ cage. You never stood a chance. Your friend from Baltimore saw to that. That was his assignment in the process.

A handshake and a ?“Let bygones?…?” cannot heal the rift that has developed. There is a rift on council just like there has always been. Sure, they have different faces and names but the politics always remains constant. You?’ll always have a faction that wants to serve the city and one that wants to serve themselves. What we are facing now, and you failed to address in your posting, is the rift that will develop between the city residents and township residents over this agreement.

Many city residents are already bitter about paying an income tax that buys them essentially nothing more than the township residents get for free. To exacerbate this situation, every time the city has earnestly talked about mergers or the like, the township has been pretty vocal in their opposition to the income tax. The prevailing sentiment is why pay you when we get to play with all your toys for free?

I assume you have read the agreement proposal as well as your new friend Mr. Fix?’s comments. Rather then hear you address the abyss on council, how about addressing your observations as a city resident on what you all will give in the agreement and what we in the township will get. We in the township have absolutely nothing to lose in this agreement and everything to gain. Can you say the same?