Pickerington Area Taxpayers Alliance

I think it is time to further explain some of the mis-representations coming from Mr. Fix.

I want to focus on these JEDD talks that have evolved over the last year or so. The original MOU stated that as these projects and possible JEDD sites became available that the city would have an opportunity to do the math and see if the JEDD was in the City?’s best interest. What Mr. Fix presented to council late last year is no where near what was proposed in the spring of 2007 in the MOU.

Mr. Fix continues to allow himself to be manipulated by the township trustees and he loses his focus right from the start. Granted I was not at these JEDD meetings but I do know what was going on from others perspective. Those attending these meetings were Mayor Shaver, Jeff Fix, Cristie Hammond, Phil Hartmann (Law Director), and Tim Hansley. It should be noted that both Mr. Fix and I are bound by the client attorney privilege and I don?’t want to state who said what. However after hours of conversations with our staff they came away with an opinion completely different that Mr. Fix. I will also say that during these meetings it was told to me that Trustee Weltlich did most of the talking and Mayor Smith from Lancaster was the only one asking questions for the three municipalities present. Staff indicated to me that this document was written by the township Attorney Al Schrader and was very biased toward the township?’s position.

Clearly this is a money grab by the township trying to get their cut up front before they are obligated to provide any infrastructure needs for that cut in revenues. Mr. Fix would like us all to believe that we are about to have a huge windfall next year and we will pay for the community center from this windfall. He further claims that we will get 13% of the return.

My question is: the return of WHAT?

Clearly this plan that Fix is promoting is based on hope with no real basis for its success. It is just more smoke and mirrors on Fix?’s part. The only one not to see that is Fix. He can?’t handle the truth!

I am sure the Gary Weltlich knows it is based on wishful thinking. In fact he said that recently on the public record.

Here is a quote from Gary Weltlich in Bloom township January 23rd 2008:

?“Weltlich said you have to remember that in the beginning the JEDD is going to have no money. Hopefully in 5 or 10 years it will begin to build a pot of money and they will be able to build their own infrastructure. Petty asked where the money is going to come from in 5 or 10 years. Weltlich said from the income tax. Petty said he just drove through the Rockmill Complex and that has not developed as projected. Weltlich said this is not going to happen in his lifetime. This will be 30-50 years before it is rocking and rolling.?”

Clearly Gary is telling the truth when he says he is hopeful.

IS HOPE A GOOD PUBLIC POLICY FOR THE CITY TO UNDERTAKE?


By Ted Hackworth

To JEDD or not to JEDD

Ted,

I appreciate your insight into this JEDD debacle. Thankfully with enough time, thought and public meetings, it has totally fallen apart. It has lost any momentum it may have had and development in the JEDD area is progressing without the unnecessary layer of a JEDD Board. In the postings below are the thoughts of Mike Arcari and John McGory, both of whom I think you are familiar with. I encourage all readers of this site to study the following postings and form an opinion. Then contact your Mayor and Councilmen to tell them what you think. Other than Mr. R. Sabatino and Mr. N. Hopkins (one against it and the latter for it) few to no people in Pickerington have spoken. Below these postings I will then post what I stumbled across yesterday and that is the Bloom Township JEDD public Hearing minutes.

That is the question....

Article published Mar 18, 2008
Businesses set for new development near Hill-Diley
Groundbreaking begins in spring
By TAMARIA L. KULEMEKA
The Eagle-Gazette Staff
tkulemeka@nncogannett.com


VIOLET TOWNSHIP - U.S. 33 motorists should notice a change in the landscape in the area of the Hill-Diley interchange during the next several years, as plans for an office park and industrial park - less than a mile from the exit - come to fruition.
Ground will be broken this spring to get the 90-acre site along Basil-Western Road ready for companies to build on.
Michael Arcari, a managing partner of the project, said one company already has entered into a contract to locate to Sycamore Crossing, though he said the company doesn't want to be named yet.
Arcari and John McGory, also a managing partner, are in negotiations with several more prospective companies that could locate to the business park in the next few years.
''We're so excited about this thing, because we feel it's the right time, it's the right place, and we feel we're the right people to make this go,'' Arcari said.
Violet Township Economic Development Specialist Joy Davis said the development will help offset the township's tax base, which is mostly residential.
''The best thing about Sycamore Crossing is it starts to set that precedence for development along 33,'' Davis said.
Davis said Fairfield County utilities will be extended to the site. Roads also need to be built at the site and other infrastructure-related work needs to be done to make it a job-ready site, she said.
Sycamore Crossing, named for the creek that borders the development, will target small to mid-size companies.
The business park, bordered by U.S. 33, Basil-Western and Amanda-Northern roads, will be visible from the highly traveled route.
The site is about half a mile from the Canal Pointe Industry and Commerce Center, a new Meijer store, which is slated to open this year, and the future development of Fairfield Medical Center and Mt. Carmel's joint hospital facility.
The site is just seven miles from I-270.

Whether tis nobler....

Quick access to major routes and the development activity near the site proved attractive for selecting the 90-acre site, McGory said.
''Land prices near the hospital are going to be rather high, so (our property) will be more affordable,'' McGory said. ''Suppliers and businesses can be close to the hospital but not right on top of them. We think that location is excellent not only for Pickerington and Canal Winchester, but Lancaster and the east side of Columbus.''
Arcari and McGory are known in and around the county for their work as economic development consultants. Arcari previously did consulting work for Canal Winchester and continues to provide consultation services through his self-owned company; McGory served as a consultant for Violet Township and the Fairfield County Utilities Department.
Both men helped forge the Cooperative Economic Development Agreement between Canal Winchester and Violet Township, which served as a catalyst for several projects along Diley Road.
The men teamed up in September 2006 to pursue this new venture.
They purchased the property from a farmer earlier this year after it was rezoned from agriculture to light industrial, manufacturing and other commercial options, which was necessary to get the project off the ground, McGory said.
Arcari said he and McGory also have thrown their support behind the Fairfield 33 Development Alliance.
Fairfield County Economic Development Director Bill Arnett, who oversees the alliance, said Arcari and McGory join 30 companies that have contributed to the organization's campaign to market the U.S. 33 corridor.
''Sycamore Crossing will be another (business) we can mention when companies come calling and looking for fully serviced industrial parks,'' Arnett said. ''The more options we can provide companies, the more likelihood one will land here.''
At a Glance
Plans are underway for a 90-acre industrial and office park in Violet Township.
The development, Sycamore Crossing, is bordered by U.S. 33, Basil-Western and Amanda-Northern roads. It's seven miles from Interstate 270.
The property allows for:
?• Flexible land use - parcels ranging in size from two to 60 acres.
?• Zoning that allows for light industrial, office and other commercial applications.
?• No corporate or personal municipal income tax for businesses.
?• Development standards and deed restrictions, which will ensure high quality development and help guarantee property values.
?• All utilities to the site provided by Fairfield County Utilities.
?• Enterprise zone tax abatement availability.
?• Space for a 20-acre office park.
?• Highway access at the nearby U.S. Route 33 and Hill/Diley interchange.
Source: Sycamore Crossing News Release