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Keith Smith-President
Christie Hammond-Vice President
And they both vote for the economic agreement that passes 4-3. I guess their votes were cheap.
A rookie councilman who I read has lived here only 3 years next in line to the Mayor's office. If he'd just keep his campaign promise and even give the appearance of helping us seniors out maybe the taste in my mouth wouldn't be so foul.
Keith, could you please pass me the referendum petition so I can clean my palate.
By Eye on City Hall
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Time to fight
I am hearing that some of you want to quit. To say the hell with it and move. After the vote last night I talked with a couple of people who attended the meeting. They were very angry and just plain pi---- off. One said to me that he was going to put his homes up for sale &%$*#@!!!.
I feel somewhat guilty in preaching here because I had some tickets to an event last night that I choose to attend. Apparently while I was having a good time some of my neighbors were fighting for the future of this city and its tax payers. I apologize to those that took on the fight last night and I fully understand what is at stake here. I was hopeful that the quiet campaign over the last two weeks to flip one or more of the council members on this development agreement. Apparently that failed. The four majority members that voted in favor last night appear to be well entrenched in their belief in this agreement. Despite that fact that it appeared that some didn?’t realize all of the issues surrounding the agreement like the new annexation law.
I know last weekend Rick Palsgrove of the Southeast Messenger encouraged the citizens of Pickerington to attend last night. I wish I had listened. I want to thank those that attended last night and those that spoke. (does anybody know the names of those that spoke to council last night?) Did anyone speak in favor of the agreement? Has anyone spoke in favor of this agreement?
This web site has posted many of the documents relating to this agreement. Along with Councilman Wisniewski?’s web site I think everyone that had any interest was supplied with the facts of the issue. Please look back to pre-2003 days when the city DID NOT POST minutes or agendas. When getting public records required that you fill out a form and submit the form to the city manager. The activist of this web site forced that change in the way Pickerington did business. Remember when we saw time and again city council passing issues by emergency and there was NO WAY to stop annexations poorly thought out or final platting to dump more homes onto the city and our schools than our infrastructure could handle.
When the local elected leaders refused to yield to the demands of the Citizens of Pickerington they were voted out of office. It appears that Mr. Fix has created a new majority and they refuse to listen to the citizens on this city. One method of getting their attention is the referendum. Clearly Mr. Wisniewski is NOT a sell out. He stood his ground and lost his position on council as its president. He has not waived in his opposition to this current agreement. I know of other elected local leaders faced with similar pressures have buckled and given in to the pressure. Mr. Wisniewski is a rare City Councilman. He has the passion and the honesty to admit when he is wrong and he will fight for what is right for his community. I think he needs your help. Please get off of your computer chair and volunteer to help Mr. Wisniewski in this referendum effort. Email him today to show him your support: bwisniewski@pickerington.net
Your city government needs a slight correction in attitude. Stand and fight!!
By Brutus
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Press Coverage
Article published Jan 3, 2007
Voters may decide fate of economic development agreement
By TAMARIA L. KULEMEKA
The Eagle-Gazette Staff
tkulemeka@nncogannett.com
PICKERINGTON -The economic development agreement that divided Pickerington City Council for the last half of 2006 will continue to split the council this year.
Three Pickerington City Council members and several residents are gearing up to knock on doors to get signatures to block the agreement, which council passed 4-3 Tuesday.
''We've got an attorney lined up, paperwork started, and we will be requesting a certified copy of the legislation that passed tonight so that we can get that to the attorney,'' said Councilman Brian Wisniewski. ''Once we get the paperwork, we will hit the streets.'' Wisniewski said the campaign to get a referendum on the ballot should begin by week's end.
Pickerington and Violet Township would work jointly in any future commercial development within the township boundaries and Pickerington Local School District boundaries under the proposed agreement, which underwent many revisions.
A referendum would place the issue on the ballot for voters to decide its fate. The referendum would appear on the ballot in the November general election, according to Wisniewski.
Wisniewski believes voters rather than four council members should determine whether the city enters into an economic development agreement of this magnitude with the township.
Council members Ted Hackworth and Michael Sabatino also cast dissenting votes on the third reading of the legislation.
Four residents spoke out against the agreement, urging council members to do what's best for the community, to let its professional staff - city manager and development director - draft such an important agreement, to not give up the city's right to annex and conform its boundaries.
Pickerington resident Tony Barletta said he supports the concept of the city and township working together, but not under the conditions of the agreement.
''I don't think we've had anyone speak in favor of it yet,'' said 45-year-old Barletta, referring to residents who spoke out at the past several council meetings. ''People favor the concept, but there's too many flaws in this agreement.''
Barletta plans to join Wisniewski and others in getting a referendum on the ballot, as does Dennis Boruszewski, who campaigned for the council members he now disagrees with.
''Words can't begin to describe my disappointment ... fool me once, shame on me,'' Boruszewski said calling out council members one by one for their actions on the issue.
He urged opposing council members to continue ''the good fight.''
Proponents of the agreement say it will forge economic development ties between the city and township, drawing more commercial industry to the area and level the tax base.
Councilwoman Heidi Riggs said she has no problem giving up the right to annex residential properties and some other terms of the agreement if it means restoring trust between the township.
''I would love to get the commercial tax base,'' Riggs said. ''I'm making this vote tonight based on what I believe as a councilperson, and as a citizen, and it's the right thing to do. ... I believe we'll see positive results.''
Councilman Jeff Fix, who drafted the agreement and believed all along he had enough votes to get it passed, believes he has the best interest of citizens in mind. Fix offered to speak to residents who will seek referendum action to further prove his point.
''If they're able to go out and get enough signatures, then we'll have a referendum,'' Fix said following the meeting. ''More people came out against Diley Road, and this council still passed the road widening. The silent majority sits outside these walls, and they're interested in leveling the tax base, and that's what this agreement does.''
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More Press
Limited power to annex passes
Divided council in Pickerington likely to face a referendum over 30-year Violet Township deal
By Kirk D . Richards THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
Violet Township would have the ability to block Pickerington from annexing residential or agricultural land for up to 30 years under an agreement approved 4-3 by the Pickerington City Council last night.
As expected, council members Jeff Fix, Crisite Hammond, Heidi Riggs and Keith Smith voted in favor of a pact that also calls for Pickerington and the township to split income-tax revenue from businesses in newly annexed commercial areas.
They say the pact was a compromise that will allow Pickerington to reap the benefits of growth. Without the deal, supporters say, Violent Township instead might work with Canal Winchester on growth areas.
Councilmen Ted Hackworth, Michael Sabatino and Brian Wisniewski opposed the agreement, which could go into effect in 30 days.
Opponents, however, are planning to circulate a referendum petition. If they collect enough valid signatures, the agreement could not take effect unless Pickerington voters approve it in November.
The agreement also will not become final unless and until township trustees approve it.
Opponents, many of whom showed up last night to make a final pitch against the agreement, com- plained that it is improper to give up the right to annex for so long, tying the hands of future leaders. Critics also say that the agreement doesn?’t guarantee that Pickerington will profit from any commercial development and that no studies were done.
''Thirty years is a long time to live with a mistake,'' resident Bruce Engelhardt said.
Hackworth said he asked that the council consider staff recommendations that did not include many of the concessions in the proposal.
''I could?’ve supported that version,'' Hackworth said.
Resident Tracey Conforti said the council should work out an agreement that every member can agree to instead of forcing the community to go through a referendum to challenge it.
''The city will become further divided,'' she said.
Conforti also asked that the council stop the public bickering, expressing outrage that Fix recently questioned the experience of his opponents by referring to Sabatino, Hackworth and Wisniewski as ''a coffee salesman, a retired deliveryman and a computer programmer.''
''I?’m not going to apologize,'' Fix said, suggesting that some of his colleagues have called him worse in the media. ''I never thought local politics would be like this.''
He criticized Wisniewski for stating in a recent Dispatch article that Fix seemed to be working more for the township than his own city.
''I?’ve missed ball games and recitals and quality time with my wife and children'' working on city issues, Fix said. ''I sleep well at night.''
Under the agreement, Pickerington still may annex commercial land, but it would have to share 50 percent of the incometax revenue with the township. The township?’s veto over annexation applies only to residential or agricultural land.
''I was persuaded that the benefits outweigh the limitations,'' Smith said last night.
The agreement also prevents Pickerington from creating its own township, an idea that would enable it to stop paying some taxes to Violet Township but would require the city to provide the fire protection that currently comes from the township.
Riggs said last night that Pickerington already has enough homes, so there is no harm in restricting the ability to annex residential land.
''I appreciate how you feel,'' Riggs told opponents. ''I believe this is the right thing to do.''
Fix said he?’d be happy to talk to anyone who has an objection to the ordinance to give him a chance to debunk the ''spin'' of his opponents.
''And if you still choose to do a referendum petition, God bless you,'' Fix said.
krichards@dispatch.com
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