Pickerington Area Taxpayers Alliance

Ideas

Hemmingway, I really don't have any answers I just like to complain. :)

Just kidding, one of the most important things that must be accomplished in the short term is to get more people involved and aware of the issues facing our community. You really have to get somewhat involved to realize what is happening and most people just go about their everyday lives thinking all is well. I know because I used to do the same. If that means re-hashing the same problems time and time again until people start listening then so be it.

I agree a recall election isn't very feasible but I don't see anything wrong with continuing to speak out at council meetings. Maybe it will toughen up the skin of some people to get ready for the 2003 elections. There might even be the off-hand chance city-council might actually start listening if more and more people start speaking out. I think letters to the editor are good in that if more people continue to read about the issues time and time again they may be inspired to get involved for positive changes. Even if it is just quiet mumbling within the walls of their own home now, maybe they will put up a NO INCUMBENTS 2003 sign in their yard next year.

Most of these following changes are long-term and rely upon #1 being accomplished. If #1 is a failure then two-men and a truck might be getting a lot of calls from Pickerington folks. ;)

1. Work together as a community for major changes during our next political office elections.
2. Future community leaders hopefully will immediately enact a 3yr moratorium on residential construction.
3. Work towards more commercial building in the area, if it hasn't all been built out as homes.
4. Decrease the long-term debt of the city by paying off bonds and other debts early instead of increasing debt by doing pretty-sidewalks and building roads for residential development.
5. Stop giving away water and sewer tap fees for residential development.
6. Review legality of existing pre-annexation aggrements and sue for reparations if illegal.
7. Town-hall type meetings to involve the public in the decisions the gov't makes vs a select few.
8. Community based committees (school board, township trustees, city officials) working together to address issues and work towards resolutions.

Sorry but I'm swamped at work right now and don't have time to continue on or go into greater detail at this time. Hopefully this along with some of the other responses will help you realize that solutions are possible. For this to occur we are going to need some decent candidates for the 2003 election.

I don't know if the damage between now and January 2004 will be able to be repaired but I refuse to believe all is lost.

There are also more radical approaches that I can think of but I don't see much support for that.

- Brian

Thanks

John and Brian,

Thanks for getting back to me and not taking what I said as any sort of personal criticism. I am frustrated because, in the short term, between now and January 2004, there really is nothing that can be done and the incumbents know it. I also in my heart believe they know, in their black hearts, there is no chance they can win another election. Therefore, they are setting up their replacements (and the rest of the City) for such a dismal 4-year term in bailing out the City from the damage they are doing that either a.) they think they can get reelected saying that things were so much better when they were in, or b.) they can laugh all the way to the bank riding their Harleys and move away to the next area targeted by Berry. Also, they won?’t have to be in office for the inevitable income tax increase that is coming now will their kids have to be educated in trailers.

Anyway, thanks for letting me vent. Complaining is easy. Changing things is hard. Pickerington is historically lazy and indifferent when it comes to voting in change. But I think we have some terrific, hard working and dedicated candidates ready to step up. They will be identified when the time is right.


By Hemmingway

Nice to meet you..

Brian,

Nice to meet you and your daughter last night at the Ohio EPA hearing.

You and other posters have some great ideas cooking here!

Like you, I?’ll be waiting to see if the newspapers do justice to my comments and concerns brought forth during the public hearing regarding the proposed Pickerington Sewer Plant expansion.

Our webmaster has done a nice job of documenting prior statements made to newspaper reporters before this hearing by Pickerington officials. How interesting it was the no Pickerington official wished to make comments to the audience last night.

You win with people.

John,

I think you have the right idea in holding any tax increase until 2004. To pass any tax increase no matter what the form would be wasted on providing more incentives to the developers. I think there are things the schools could do that make just one more year or maybe we need to just let the problem come to a head like a pimple. Then in November of 2003 we pop that sucker. Increasing taxes now will only act like Clearasil by just correcting the problem for a short period of time.

You are right about electing Mike Noll. At least he has an agenda besides telling everyone that he will show up for meetings and listen. Mike Kiger has no ideas nor does he know ?“the details?” on many of the issues that face this county. He got elected by trashing Allan Reid and nothing more. The town drunk could have run against Allan and they would have won by the opposition that the Mike Kiger?’s band wagon developed in Lancaster last May. I believe there is some long time, Republicans in the county re-thinking their collective decision to support Kiger. Remember Mike Kiger didn?’t win very many precincts here in the Pickerington area. He probably got a huge cross over vote in Lancaster. For Kiger to win he must carry Pickerington by 60% or more. If he only carries Pickerington by 50% then Mike Noll wins. That is my opinion and it is free.



Brian,

Some of your ideas were great. Please don't go away come election time. I like the ?“No Incumbents in 2003?” How about signs saying ?“INCUMBENT FREE CITY IN 2004?”? Maybe even ?“CAUTION INCUMBENTS HEADING OUT OF TOWN ON TUESDAY?”.

There are some problems with the moratorium. I think we can fix it before the 2003 election. I believe you will be hearing MUCH MORE about this in the next few weeks. I hope we can count on you and John to help with this project. There are some legal issues that must be addressed first, but it is doable.


I understand that you were at the EPA hearing last night. Please try to attend as many meetings as you can no matter where they are (council, trustees, school board and even booster meetings). The more informed everyone is the more people can understand the tremendous problems facing this community. Only then will we be able to march forward to solve our problems.

I also want to make sure that everyone that reads this web site, that there are people in the community working on these problems. When the time is right they will step forward. I would ask that you continue your comments on the web site to help reinforce the sprits of those that are plotting to overthrow the incumbents in 2003. Once these candidates are announced get on the phone and call them to volunteer your help. They will need money and people to help them. You can?’t believe how much work there is in running a campaign. Remember David Shaver got elected by his own hard work and those that help stuff envelopes, hang campaign brochures on mailboxes and make phone calls. Mr. Shaver replaced all that money that the incumbents had with people. As old Woody used to say, ?“You win with people?”. Politics is no different. In October of 2003 you all must be working for your candidate. No excuses. just do it!


By Dr. Pepper