Pickerington Area Taxpayers Alliance

Hey Ted H., you still out there. Would you mind weighing in on the 3 the three acre JEDD. I didn't think other aneexations ''left'' the township. Why is this being played up?

Do we know what type of businesses are going in to project revenues? Would love to hear your thoughts of the issue.

How does the zoning work coming into the city? Will ther be a preannexation agreement? Didn't the mayor call those ''contract zoning?'' Or did that serve his purpose of rise to power then and now he'll be mute on his opinions?

By Cyberspace Hackworth Supporter

Read the minutes

FINANCE COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL
CITY HALL, 100 LOCKVILLE ROAD
THURSDAY, MARCH 15, 2007

REGULAR MEETING

7:30 P.M.


1. ROLL CALL. Mr. Smith called the meeting to order at 7:30 P.M., with roll call as follows: Mr. Sabatino, Mrs. Hammond, Mr. Smith, and Mr. Fix were present. No members were absent. Others present were Mayor Shaver, Judy Gilleland, Lynda Yartin, Linda Fersch, Ted Hackworth, Carol Carter, Fred Holmes, Bob Slingluff, and others.

3. Presentation by Fred Holmes of Volunteer Energy Services, Inc. Mr. Holmes stated he was representing Volunteer Energy Services, Inc., and they provide natural gas services. Mr. Holmes gave a power point presentation (Attachment 1 to these minutes.)

Mayor Shaver stated he would like to submit to Finance Committee an Annexation Agreement for consideration, and all Committee members have received a copy of this agreement. Mayor Shaver stated this is an annexation agreement on approximately three acres of land that would have professional office space. Mr. Smith stated he would like to delay considering this agreement until at least next month. Mr. Smith moved to Table the Annexation Agreement; Mrs. Hammond seconded the motion. Mr. Smith stated Mayor Shaver was also going to present a Memorandum of Understanding and he would like to separate these two items. He stated he would like to consider the Memorandum of Understanding this evening, and continue discussion on the annexation agreement at the next meeting. Mr. Fix stated he understood the Township had put some kind of a deadline on the annexation agreement, and Mr. Smith stated the Township had indicated they would like a response within 21 days. Mr. Sabatino stated he had asked the law director about that and his comment was that they generally disregard things like that. Roll call was taken on the motion to Table with Mr. Sabatino, Mr. Smith, Mrs. Hammond, and Mr. Fix voting ?“Yea.?” Motion to Table passed, 4-0.

Mayor Shaver stated he would also like to submit to Finance Committee a Memorandum of Understanding to Create JEDDs, and stated he would like to have Finance Committee move this out of Committee to the full Council for a vote. Mayor Shaver stated this Memorandum of Understanding is between five entities, Bloom Township, Violet Township, City of Lancaster, City of Pickerington, and the City of Pickerington. He stated the purpose of the agreement is to indicate that the parties will work in the future on economic development throughout the Route 33 corridor. He stated we want to present a united front and all of the entities to be involved in the discussions and share in the revenue. Mayor Shaver stated he felt it was important as the Route 33 corridor is developed, that there be cooperation between all the government entities. He stated each JEDD or CEDA would be addressed on their individual terms. Mayor Shaver stated the other entities will be presenting this Memorandum of Understanding to their Councils or

The discussion

Trustees so he would like to start this process going. Mr. Smith stated he understood the City of Lancaster has already had one reading this differs from that one because this has five signatories as opposed to three, with Pickerington and Bloom Township being added. Mr. Smith stated he would then assume Lancaster would amend their agreement at the next reading so all five entities would be voting on the same agreement. He further stated as he read the agreement, it does not obligate us to anything. Mayor Shaver stated that was correct, it is an indication that the parties are going to cooperate in the future for economic development. Mr. Sabatino stated he felt this was a good way to approach it as when it comes to individual projects each entity would make a decision on their involvement based upon the merits of that project. Mr. Fix moved to approve the Memorandum of Understanding and forward to Council; Mrs. Hammond seconded the motion. Mr. Smith stated he was initially concerned about the additional parties involved, but in thinking of it objectively it was just more people to share the infrastructure costs. He stated he now felt he liked having five parties involved instead of three. Mayor Shaver stated we would also have the ability to use the two percent income tax of Lancaster and Canal Winchester. Mr. Fix stated last year when the Mayor appointed him to work with the CEDA group, there were three objectives. To see whether or not Pickerington could participate in the existing CEDA, to work on the Violet Township agreement which we adopted a couple of months ago, and to take a look at the corridor all the way from the Franklin County line all the way down to the Lancaster line and include as many groups as possible in that process. He stated the Township has taken the initiative to push that third effort forward and he did not see how we could possibly lose in this. Mr. Fix stated he applauded the Mayor and others in working with the Township to make this happen. Mr. Hackworth clarified that there is no specific JEDD that is being considered right now. Mayor Shaver stated there are some JEDD discussions going on about different properties, so specific JEDDs may be coming very quickly. Mr. Sabatino stated this agreement still only obligated us to take a look at it, it does not obligate us to get into an agreement if it is not in our best interests to do so. Mr. Smith stated he felt this got us a seat at the table, and the next agreement would be a specific JEDD. Roll call was taken with Mrs. Hammond, Mr. Fix, Mr. Smith, and Mr. Sabatino voting ?“Yea.?” Motion passed, 4-0.

Isn't it funny?

It's funny how Fix's original objectives can be so clearly spelled out now that the task is complete. You can score a 100% on your report card if you meet all your objectives. And that is all the easier if you have none up front but get them after you're done.

Isn't it wonderful how we have come to govern this city by having our eyes firmly glued to the rear-view mirror?

I lay all this on the feet of Gilleland. She is supposed to lead. She is incapable. She is incompetent.