Pickerington Area Taxpayers Alliance

There are four issues facing us all this coming month. I think it is time that those on council make some effort to show where they stand and how they plan to get there.

A. On may 8th the City residents will vote to amend the City Charter. That amendment will prevent the future councils and council-members from giving up the City?’s right to conform the City?’s boundaries and to give up the City?’s rights to annex without the permission of the township. Clearly the Mayor and Trustee Fix are against this City Charter amendment. The Mayor has come a long way since he talked about the council not questioning the wisdom of the voters. Today he is now the authority that feels for some reason this hurts the City. It clearly throws a monkey wrench into his plans to give it all away to the township.

B. Sitting on the Finance Committee agenda is the ?“pre-annexation?” agreement that was negotiated between the City and the township without the knowledge of the property owner. This agreement give away 40% of the city?’s future income taxpayers money to the township with nothing in return from the township other than their blessings. It also restricts the city?’s rights to annex and to conform or remove this 3.3 acres out of the township. Apparently in posting below Councilman Smith didn?’t want to mix the two issues. Where does the Mayor and Fix stand on this issue. If these two oppose the charter amendment then they are not happy with this issue sitting idle on the finance committee agenda. I think once the Charter amendment passes that makes this pre-annexation null and void. Did this citizens group read the tea leaves or what?

C. It also appears by the newspaper reports that the Chairman of the Service Committee doesn?’t what to talk about the Master Development agreement that was recently returned from the trustees with their new demands on the city. Here again if the Charter Amendment passes then this development agreement will require a complete overhaul (that is mechanic talk for the high and mighty Fix). In fact there will be very little to salvage from it.

D. Last month the City passed an ordinance to allow the City Manager to sign on to a five party MOU. As was pointed out down the way four of the five parties have already met and excluded Pickerington from the opening session with the public. Clearly the trustees are trying to make the City of Pickerington look incompetent and that they are missing the banana boat in this wonderful economic development in the US 33 corridor. If JEDD?’s are going to be the vehicle to bring on all of this economic cooperation then they must have some large land owners already signed onto to the idea. The Moore family along will get them 900 acres. Maybe that is why Lancaster, Canal, Bloom and Violet were at the meeting.

Anyway we all being lead down the Melrose path here folks. It is time we all revolted and told our trustees and the majority of council and the Mayor our feelings. One way is to prevent their actions with a charter amendment. I know they all complained back in 2002 that they could never pass anything again when the charter was changed to make it harder to pass issues as emergency. The City never skipped a beat once the charter was changed. It is time we told the Mayor and Trustee Fix where we all stand.

By Petition carrier

INVITED BUT NO SHOW

Somewhere, somehow facts just get distorted. Pickerington was indeed to attend a recent JEDD meeting held at Canal Winchester. They just did not show up! When questioned about their absence, the reply was ''Just have another meeting.'' The pure and simple fact is ''Pickerington does not want to share anything with anybody.''

Wrong Thread

Apparently by your response you seem to be responding to the wrong posting. First you should take the time and read the Township?’s response to your left on the ?“Master Development Agreement?”. This document was being delivered sometime around the first of March. The vary week this Master Agreement and its response were being sent back to Pickerington the Violet Township Trustees were engaged with a completely different plan with Canal Winchester, Lancaster, and Bloom Twp. The City of Pickerington was not included on the ?“three way?” MOU at the time. In fact, if the City of Pickerington were to sign onto this Master Development Agreement they would be forever (30 years) be restricted in what areas they would be allowed to participate in the now five parties MOU.

Your quote of someone but not sure who in the City of Pickerington indicated that the City choose not to participate in the March 27th meeting in Canal Winchester about the MOU is not true. The reporter for the Canal Winchester Times (SNP) indicated the meeting was sponsored by Canal, Violet, Bloom, and Lancaster. Note NO!! Pickerington.

Your quote about Pickerington not sharing. First that is a very inaccurate statement and it reflects your indoctrination by the trustees. The Trustee have carried out a whisper campaign for years now and they have been very loose with the truth. Unfortunately the city elected those that now believe much of what the Trustee claim and they are too afraid to check out the real facts. I refer to the Mayor and Trustee Fix. In Fix?’s case he very willingly takes their information and spreads it as fact. To the Press, and to everyone who will listen.

I think what you will find from here on out is that before Pickerington gets in bed with the township the facts and figures must be there before any future risks are taken with the City Taxpayer?’s money. You and your rumor mills will not be part of any of this

Refer to Item D in original post

Wrong Thread: I was not in the wrong thread.
Check the April llth Times Sun, at the bottom of the page. ''Pickerington Economic Development Director, the city's delegate for the meetings, was unable to attend.'' As I remember the newspapers' notice of that March 27th meeting, it was open to any and all who wanted to attend. Also, I am a Pickerington resident who has followed many annexations and agrements in the past. Pickerington paid its way into growing through its annexations. That is one of the reasons they have financial problems at this time.