Pickerington Area Taxpayers Alliance

For years I?’ve watched as a variety of elected officials in Pickerington and Violet Township have been ripped to shreds with what is often innuendo, rumor, and just flat out lies and mis-information on this web site. Most often this is all done in a cowardly way ?– anonymously.

Recently I?’ve decided to begin posting here not in an effort to win over the avowed ?“Fix haters?” but to provide facts for others who read this blog.

Over the past couple of days Ted Hackworth has posted three different pages about how I and others are under performing as City Council members in his opinion. I respect Mr. Hackworth for having the courage to sign his name where others will not. That being said, I feel it imperative to point out the fallacies in his posting, and to offer the truth behind my and other?’s efforts to bring economic development to Pickerington.

Mr. Hackworth asserted in his first posting that ?“using a quote from an employee no matter how experienced is bogus in my mind;?” and that Mr. Hansley, current interim city manager and development director, was not involved in the process that brought forth last year?’s Master Economic Development Agreement (MEDA). If you go back and read my posting on 3/5 ?“Do your homework?” you?’ll see that I said Mr. Hansley supported the MEDA ?– not that he was involved with the creation of it. FACT. At the time that council was debating this agreement I was criticized significantly for not ?“listening to the experts.?” I did. Mr. Hansley, again one of the most respected governmental administrators in Ohio ?– believed that the MEDA would benefit the city. Ask him for yourself.

Mr. Hackworth further asserts that I quote then city manager Judy Gilleland as supporting the MEDA. I?’ve read my postings several times and I can?’t find one instance where I even suggest much less quote Mrs. Gilleland as being in support of the MEDA. Taking one?’s posting and misquoting it days later when it is RIGHT THERE to review should be beneath all of us. I thought Mr. Hackworth was better than that.

Mr. Hackworth then says that I ?“only want to be Santa in giving away our hard earned tax dollars to the township.?” This is just flat out wrong. The whole concept behind the MEDA was that we would share in ALL economic development that occurs in Violet Township OUTSIDE our city borders and that we would share in all economic development that happens ON our city borders through annexation. Economic development that occurs WITHIN the city borders need not be shared. There is nothing in the MEDA that gives any existing, much less ?“hard earned?” tax dollars to the Township. That is a FACT that has long been misrepresented by opponents of the MEDA. Read the agreement. It?’s all there in black and white.

(CONTINUED)

By Jeff Fix

Facts (continued)

Consider this: If Pickerington had signed the MEDA with the Township, any development along Rt. 33 would have provided Pickerington with 50% of the taxes generated after expenses. If Pickerington participates in the JEDD, we will get 13% of the taxes generated. If Pickerington chooses not to participate in the JEDD, as Mr. Hackworth advocates, then the city will get 0%.

MEDA ?– 50%

JEDD ?– 13%

HACKWORTTH PLAN ?– 0%

What is even more infuriating is that Mr. Hackworth asserts that Tim Hansley was bullied during the JEDD meetings. Any of you who know Mr. Hansley know better but Ted assertion is just plain wrong ?– bold faced lies. First of all, Mr. Hackworth did not attend ONE JEDD meeting so he has no idea what occurred there. I?’m not even going to dignify Mr. Hackworth?’s assertion that Mayor Shaver was ?“wanting to fire any employee in sight that disagreed with him.?” Look it up. Mr. Shaver fired no one and there were plenty - Mr. Hansley chief among them - who disagreed with him. These are just lies and it?’s really sad to see Mr. Hackworth behaving this way.

Another ridiculous comment in Mr. Hackworth?’s first posting is that ?“In June of 2006 Mr. Fix used taxpayer dollars to have Mr. McGory write a report on the possible development of the US 33 corridor.?” No one councilman has the ability to spend taxpayer dollars and Mr. Hackworth knows that. Mr. McGory, at the time, was employed as the city?’s development director. In that capacity, knowing that the city was interested in participating in development of the 33 corridor, Mr. McGory with his partner, Mr. Arcari, prepared a study of that area that was used in the decision making process ?– both for and against ?– the MEDA.

I know by now you are tired of reading this as I am tired of writing it but the truth needs to be posted to push back the reckless falsities put forth by Mr. Hackworth.

In the final paragraph of the first posting Mr. Hackworth says ?“there has been nothing the last couple of years by experts in the field to back up Mr. Fix?’s claims.?” What I have claimed is that the 33 corridor from the Franklin County line down to and around Lancaster is going to be developed over time. Any expert you ask will tell you this is bound to happen. No one has a crystal ball. No one can tell you WHEN it is going to happen but all are in agreement that it IS going to happen. And it is already starting to happen.

The question I?’ve been trying to get city council to focus on since the day I took office is not whether or not it?’s going to happen, or even when it's going to happen, but how the city will participate in this development when it does occur. Look at the numbers above. My original plan provided 50%. The current JEDD would provide 13%. Ted?’s plan ?– 0%.

(CONTINUED)

By Jeff Fix

More facts

As disappointed as I was with the initial posting, I was absolutely flabbergasted by the outright lies in Mr. Hackworth?’s 2nd posting.

The fourth paragraph says that ?“Mayor Shaver?…assigned Jeff Fix and Keith Smith the task of finding a way to solve our budget shortfalls soon to come.?” NEVER HAPPENED. Nothing of the sort happened. Ever.

?“Initially Keith Smith and Jeff Fix met with the school board members and started the process of finding a solution to funding problems.?” BOLD FACED LIE. NEVER HAPPENED. Nothing of the sort happened. Ever. The first meeting I had with ANY school board member happened after this most recent election. FACT.

?“All the time claiming this was too important than solving the city budget problems.?” Not sure exactly what that means but the whole reason I have embarked down the economic development path is to cure the city?’s financial issues WITHOUT RAISING TAXES! Ted?’ answer, as he admits, is to raise your income taxes. My answer, as it has been since day one, is to find alternative sources of revenue.

Recently I volunteered for the ?“expense?” subcommittee of the council Finance committee. So on one hand I have worked harder than any other council member to bring cooperative economic development to our city while on the other hand I am working to curb costs in every way possible. Mr. Hackworth?’s solution is to build a wall around the city and raise your taxes. Perhaps there's a reason he was unsuccessful in last fall's election.

Staff attorney fees on all of the economic development projects are no where near $100,000. This is another guess by Mr. Hackworth. A few weeks ago he was quoted in the paper saying the Pickerington schools spent $100,000 for the swim teams to rent pool time. I spoke with a School board member about this. Actual cost this past year - $12,000. Get the facts before you speak or type Ted. You embarrass yourself with this.

THIRD POSTING RESPONSE

?“Clearly writing the campaign material for Brian Sauer and Tricia Sanders and filled the material with lies and embellishments.?” REDICULOUS. I had absolutely nothing to do with Mr. Sauer?’s campaign materials at all. I did participate in Mrs. Sanders materials as I was her campaign manager. If there were lies and embellishments then I?’m sure Mr. Hackworth or others would have taken those running to the Ohio Ethics Commission. They?’ve not hesitated in the past (and they?’ve lost those arguments as well.) Showing yourself as a poor loser is unbecoming of you Ted.

?“Clearly seeing himself as an expert and ignoring the real experts working as consultants for the city.?” I respect Tim Hansley more than any other governmental administrator I?’ve ever met. He?’s the guy I listen to. He?’s the expert we should all listen to. Ted can?’t show where I?’ve actually ignored Mr. Hansley so he just makes stuff up.

Mr. Hackworth further asserts that if we don?’t raise taxes this November ?“we will kiss our police department good by.?” I can?’t begin to imagine where this comes from but it?’s just plain stupid. This has not even been discussed.

Mr. Sauer can defend himself if he chooses but I can tell you that I?’ve never once heard him mention anything about hiring the Sheriff?’s department to do the city?’s police work.

(CONTINUED)


By Jeff Fix

Final for this posting

THE BOTTOM LINE

Mr. Hackworth is clearly bitter that he lost in his bid to retain his seat on Pickerington?’s city council last fall. He disagrees with me and others on the future of the city and how we can best deliver services to our constituents in the most cost-effective manner possible.

Instead of using facts to back his arguments, Mr. Hackworth has unfortunately turned to lies and innuendo. Everything I have posted here is verifiable. Ted can?’t say the same.

I am all for open honest political debates that are based in fact or informed opinion. I am disappointed that someone I once respected is now slinging mud in a way that should be embarrassing to him. Stick to the facts Ted. Lies don't become you.

I apologize for the length of this posting. Putting forth facts takes time and, unfortunately, space.

I invite anyone who is intersted in having a debate about ideas and policies to step forward and post your ideas here (and sign your name if you're interested in more than throwing mud). I am happy to engage in political debate.

Debunking lies is not fun but necessary on occasion. I hope those occasions become more and more rare as this site returns to being a positive place for change in our community.






By Jeff Fix