Pickerington Area Taxpayers Alliance

Violet Township Residents:

Ever wonder why Pickerington Police cruisers are riding around ever more frequently in our (Unincorporated Violet Township) neighborhoods?

It?’s a conspiracy, that?’s why! The ?“New Sheriff in Town?” has told the Columbus Dispatch that his forces are a little thin. Actually, he?’s rearranging the deputy lineup to accommodate a Pickerington annexation attempt. Yes, opening up the door for Pickerington to annex the new school site and the American Legion!!!

Sound like a bunch of rumors and hearsay? Don?’t count on it!! I think a few well-informed individuals have already caught Pickerington City Hall with their hands ready to dip into our (unincorporated Violet Township?’s) cookie jar!

These folks are unscrupulous and if we?’re not careful, we?’ll be seeing Pickerington Police in our neighborhoods for good!

Hey, Dave Phalen, if you don?’t have the resources, you better talk to your commissioners or you?’ll find yourself out of a job in 3 ?½ years! We (unincorporated violet township residents) won?’t stand for Pickerington Police in our neck of the woods to further exacerbate our city problems! We don?’t pay for ?‘em; we don?’t want em?’!

We do not want Pickerington policing Chevington Woods, Mingo Estates, Huntington Hills, or even Mallard Pond!!! If you can?’t do the job, Sheriff Dave Phalen, give up your job!!!

And if the new high school on Pickerington Road is too much for you, then ask the commissioners for some more cash!! The last thing we want is Pickerington Police in our backyards on the excuse that our ?“new sheriff in town?” can?’t handle the extra work! This will open the door for city hall to stake a claim on our property!!!

The extra Pickerington Police, in itself, is not a bad thing. But when that happens, city hall will be demanding the property as well. We certainly don?’t want those dirty politicians and greedy homebuilders getting their hands on more of Violet Township property, do we? We know your hidden agendas City Hall! If it weren?’t so, we wouldn?’t mind the extra police protection!!!

Let's drill down a little bit...

Let's take the subject of the Police Department to a more fundamental level, shall we? First of all, let me state my support of our boys in blue. They have never done me a wrong turn and I believe their level of service is acceptable. Also, I have never voted against an issue to help them.

We passed a levy to help them build a new station. Their old one is crap. However, have you yet seen them break ground on the new station? Is there a statute of limitations that say how soon they have to use the money before we get it back?

Is part of the reason they haven?’t broken ground because of the land that King Berry so graciously bequeathed from his kingdom. Did you ever truly think that the King would do anything out of the goodness of his heart? Come on, look behind where the donated land is. What?’s there? Another section of the Berry kingdom. Oh yes, he will expand it to also lie on all the rest of the land he own adjacent to the Police station. Oh and guess what?? If there is the CITY Police station there, the CITY has to provide water and sewer to it right? And since it just happens to cross the majority of the King?’s land, we might as well provide water and sewer to all the King?’s land, too.

For the time being, the bulk of the CITY lies below Refugee Road. Why then would you locate the Police Department at the farthest reach of the current people they serve and protect? Oh you might come up with statistics that say how many of their calls come from the 204/256 ghetto, but the PEOPLE they serve and protect are south. Well?….. for now anyway. I?’m sure the King and Queen and their loyal court will soon enough expand their reach so that the new Police station is right about in the middle of the City. They?’re in a position to lock up everything west of 256 for annexation and high density rezoning.

Don?’t think you folks north and east of Refugee/256 are safe for long. If the current regime is reelected, you?’ll all be CITY folk before their next term is complete.

Bank on it!



By The Other Anonymous

Sheriff & Local Law Enforcement

Sheriff & Local Law Enforcement efforts

Between the multiple times I have listened to, and spoken with both branches of our community?’s law enforcement I would like to clarify some of the concerns of recent postings on this web site.

Whether you see Deputies or Officers about town (township) there is a value in their efforts.

Lets look at our greater community?’s transportation status-

1. We currently have a very poor transportation network ?– and as various roads are under repair, construction, or detour routes - the choices of going from one end of our community to the other are greatly effected. Even without today?’s road work our transportation grid is not up to the current or future needs.
2. How law enforcement negotiates this maze is not as important as the fact that they get to where they are needed.

Budgets and facilities-

1. The current Pickerington facility situation is poor.

2. The westernmost (almost Columbus boundary) for a new facility is very questionable as to the sharing of Police & Sheriff efforts (in a resource sharing effort) as you consider the geography of this community today.

3. Budgets for support service (like the Sheriff?’s Office) are usually determined in advance of the current office holder. When David Phalen took office he did not have the luxury of already having a say in his departments needs financially. County Officials (likely ?– and this is conjecture) were wary of the predecessor, regarding financial concerns. As litigation is not yet finalized, it is yet to be determined if these concerns were justified. However, it is understandable that a level of caution might have existed related to the Sheriff?’s budget.

4. Both Police & Sheriff?’s departments are feeling the effects of the COCS (Costs of Community Services) that we have covered in our previous material. In short ?– farmland brings in lower tax revenues and requires less services, commercial / industrial brings in more tax revenue and requires more services (but is usually well above breakeven), and of course residential uses bring in more tax dollars than farms but require more services than commercial / industrial. (usually then being a cost above revenue situation)

So as both Violet Township & Pickerington roll in the subdivisions we are always fighting an uphill battle to provide services. Parents see this in their children?’s schools, elderly feel this in their ?“pinch?” to pay increasing taxes, and we all see it day to day in our roads, just to mention a few of the COCS factors. Law enforcement is likewise caught in this economic bind.

Since the recent postings mention the Sheriff?’s efforts, I?’ll share some of the information related to this department.

1. The Sheriff has instituted a more personable approach toward policing efforts. Bike & horse patrols ?– where and when appropriate - to get the deputies our in front of and among the people.
2. A community watch program is being instituted to help law enforcement be more effective.
3. Deputies have been take out of the radio room, being replace by other competent staff, in efforts to increase the numbers available for law enforcement coverage.
4. Almost 50% of the on-duty deputy?’s efforts are in the Violet Township area. Considering the size of Fairfield County this is very significant.

For those citizens wishing to contact the Sheriff?’s Office (for non-emergencies) with their questions, comments, or concerns the phone # is 740-653-5223.

Sheriff & Local Law Enforcement

- Conclussion -

I have repeatedly commented to both Sheriff Phalen and Chief Fuller that I appreciate a cooperative effort for all residents needs toward law enforcement issues. Both men have concurred with this philosophy.

Annexations and the dribble of politician?’s aside ?– law enforcement efforts are primary. I choose not to play one branch against the other in these ?“turf?” wars. I feel it is better to fight the political issues without the need to choose between the law enforcement branches.

Bob Harding