Pickerington Area Taxpayers Alliance

A little caffiene is helpful

Did the city do a good job explaining the tax issue? Maybe, maybe not. I understood what they were saying probably only because I took an extra minute out of my ?“oh so busy life?” to actually read the campaign information and read the city website. Most of the 65% of those rejecting it probably didn?’t care to take a minute.
I think maybe we should talk about eliminating the credit the city gives those that live here and work elsewhere. How many other cities give credit or have had to take it away? Does anyone have that information?
I went to the DARE graduation the other night as my nephew was one of the kids there. One of the principals said it was the largest DARE class EVER. That is amazing and congratulations to the police department for graduating this many kids on a budget that is probably no bigger than it was 5 years ago. Maybe that is part of the problem. Maybe too many of us take the PD?’s ability to continue to provide a high level of service while egotistical councilmen threaten budget slashes in favor of fireworks for granted. I know they have too much professional pride to simply say ?“Forget DARE, we need these officers on the street.?” But somewhere the decision will have to be made that they simply won?’t go the extra mile until they get some relief. But when that outcry comes I am sure council will simply point at the Chief, call him a hardass and tell us to talk to him so it will all become his fault while they sit on their thrones and enjoy their titles.
Here?’s another pet peeve of mine. Whatever happened to our K-9 officer? I mean I know Officer Zar retired and he is missed but why was there never a replacement? Oh yeah, right ?– no money. So one of the biggest deterrents to certainly drugs and probably weapons in our schools can?’t be replaced because we think things like fireworks are more important. Officer Zar put the fear of God in the kids who bring drugs to school not only because he could sniff out the lockers and their cars but also themselves in the classrooms. There was no hiding from Zar. Now we have a new generation of kids, many of whom are from urban areas and are gang related in our district and no K-9 to deal with them. But please join us at Victory Park for what promises to be our biggest and best fireworks show to date! Sarcasm? Sure but I am more concerned with the other 364 days, 23 hours and 40 minutes in this city than I am with 20 minutes of pyrotechnics that I can easily drive to any neighboring city to see.

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By Kathy K

Somebody SHUT ME UP!

I have to take a deep breath. I start out on an even keel in these postings but end up all worked up and emotional over some of the things I see and read. My problem is that I have made a commitment to be in this city for the next 20 years or more. I intend to raise my family here and send them through this district just like their dad and I did so I tend to take things more personally.
I?’ll try to wrap up here because I imagine I?’ve already exceeded my word limit for one posting. In your last paragraph you talk about public debates and responsibility. I have to say that I am happy that most of these debates, no matter how inane they are, are taking place in public. I would rather know that a councilman is inept or uninformed or were interjecting personal gains into a discussion before instead of later. I also love the intrigue by councilmen obviously counting votes with every stance they take or quote they carefully make for the press (Sabatino and Sauer). What would make me happier is if they were capable of making a decision on things. Reading back through the minutes I see that the RITA debate has been going on for a year. A YEAR! Come on, how long must you stroke Brian Sauer?’s ego with keeping this debacle alive? We want humans to contact with our tax problems for crying out loud. We don?’t want his cousin?’s company?’s telephone tree to tell us to visit their website that will tell us to mail in forms. If this isn?’t taken off the agenda for good and soon, we will just have to do what the anti-red light camera group did and threaten council with a referendum or initiative to prohibit this nonsense for happening. Who will join me? Let?’s call a meeting at the library, get the TV stations there and make a threat and drive council into submission on this stupidity. Is that all it takes? I am on maternity leave for a while more and can carry a petition or two. Let?’s make RITA go away and free up council?’s time to deal with the real issue of income to the city.
Board of Health? For Pete?’s sake just sign the contract with Franklin County. My husband and I went to OSU and lived in the Franklin County Board of Health?’s jurisdiction for 4 years. We ate out a lot because I hadn?’t learned to cook. I LOVED seeing the stickers on the restaurants to know if they passed inspection. In Pickerington it is anyone?’s guess if you?’ll get food poisoning if you step in the door. My gosh, look at the customers Franklin County serves! We are a perfect fit. We are just like all their other customers. What do we (a growing and vibrant city) have in common with Lancaster (big city dying a slow death) or Baltimore (Mayberry) when it comes to our health department needs? Nothing! Make a decision and move on. If each councilman knocked on three doors in their neighborhoods and asked if they would rather stay with this county or go with that, I think council would find NO ONE CARES!!! Just make a damned decision and get back to dealing with the real issue of income to the city.

Quit serving yourselves, your egos and SERVE YOUR CITY!
If you can?’t, please don?’t run for office again.


end and Respectfully,
KK

By Kathy K

a guess

I think you used to write for the SE messenger.

By webmaster one

Nope

Webby,

I thought so too but I talked to her and it isn't who you think. Maybe we just got us a new bright and articulate contributor. Nice change, eh?