Pickerington Area Taxpayers Alliance

4 plus mayor

Well who do you recall? Oh wise one! Or are you still hanging on to the RETIRED ones?

Southeast Messenger letter:

A village of the people, for the people?

How should the residents of Canal Winchester feel when you, the Canal Winchester Village Council, deny us of our voting rights? Some would shy away, others would groan, while citizens like Jeffrey Bond and I continue the challenge for all to be heard.

A while ago, Jeffrey and I decided that a decision from our elected village officials could be harmful to our community. We found from speaking to over 245 plus Canal Winchester residents that the majority would like to have a say in the right to vote on a referendum petition. The public wanted a chance to vote on a zoning ordinance on whether condos should be built across from our elementary school. We were within our rights constitutionally.

After the bureaucratic legalese and a virtual abuse of emergency powers of council, all of that changed. Because of the village charter, our council took away our right to vote on the referendum issue. We should find no humor in the fact that the exact same condo complex is again allowed to build there, without ever hearing from the electorate. This project still fails to meet the zoning requirements set forth by our council and yet is still approved.

Our elected officials are more concerned with themselves, their politics, and donations rather than listening to us, The Village Folk.?” We?’re going be a city soon. The voices of our citizens are not being heard, so why would it be any different in the future?

We have a right to challenge decisions when we, the people, speak out, especially when done to the letter of the law. Why is it that those who voice concerns are sometimes punished by the political powers that be? But, again, it is our social obligation to continue the cause for a better community.

If you choose not to be involved, be supportive. Please find it within yourselves to speak your hearts and minds to your leaders. It is our right and privilege to question why we are in this current situation. The correct remedy (as when this referendum was denied) is to vote all of our current elected officials out of office at the next election.

Sara R. Ball

Canal Winchester