News Channel Pickerington Reporting.......
Last night the City of Pickerington held its City Countil Meeting to address the discussion of the Community Growth Plan (aka housing moritorium). Many concerned citizens arrived at 6:00 p.m. for the meeting. Councilman Bill Wright was standing at the door refusing to let people in. The swearing in ceremony for the two new council members, Mrs.Riggs and Mr. Sabitino was scheduled for 6:15 pm. Mrs. Wright(Councilman Bill Wright's wife) came in and told people that they could not come in. Did we elect her? Oh I forgot, we get you too. The crowd swelled until Mr. Shaver came to the doors and they let him in. I am told that Mrs. Wright told Mr. Shaver that they preferred that the public not come in just then. Thankfully he ignored her (as he should). The doors opened and the flood gates came in. At first it was a few of the older residents like Dorothy Steiger (sp?)who gave Bibles to the City and the Police Department. That was nice. Of course Mrs. Wright was there. She had a seat right away. Mr. Wright's daughter sat up in Daddy's chair. It was very cozy. The families of the new appointtees where there in the front row. Shortly after a few more city and county citizens arrived. Linda Yartin was busily passing out slips for people to speak.(37) Then the largest group that has ever attended a city council meeting came in. Members of the BIA (over 50 I estimate) came in and flanked all sides of the hall. They were in the back overflow sitting, standing and squating. They filled the foyer body to body, so that you could barely get through the door. One of the construction workers sat in a chair strategically in front of Mr. Shaver with his hard hat and work boots. It was jammed. When a name was called for that person to come forward and speak to council, it took about 10 seconds for them to make it through the crowds. They yelled ''I'm coming!'' Ladies and Gentlemen of the BIA all had their BIA house stickers on their shirts. Their attire included boots and hard hats and a great deal of dirty shirts. Good thing they pay by the hour, it was a long meeting. They made quite a statement. The Chairman of the BIA, Tom Hart was there. Their were several of the City's finest in the background to take care of the potential crowd if we got out of hand. The halls were then filled with a series of builders. Several contracting companies came as well. Several prominent real estate agents came as well. None of the local real estate professionals spoke in opposition. First to speak was Doroty Steiger who read an impassioned letter of her views, which did not support the moratorium. Her children was raied here and she was proud of the growth we have achieved. She gave her bibles to the City and sat down. Mr. Dennis Waley (sp?) came forward with administrative comments not related to the night. James Huffman came forward in opposition. Mrs. Karen Russell who has lived her for 16 years with a 9th grade son spoke out against the measure. Mr. Jack Hogland a real estate agent living in the City spoke in favor of the ordinance. Mr. Mike Donley of Donley Homes spoke up in opposition. John Dolske from the township spoke in support. John Alzner, President of Alzner Concrete spoke in opposition. He would lose a great deal of money if this passes. He was relying on the houses. Stephanie Brobst, township resident came forward to share that the ''vocal minority'' as described by Mr. Metzger of the Columbus Board of Realtors, was in fact vocal, but certainly not in the minority. Eric Shottenstein of Joshua Homes got up and gave a commercial on Joshua Homes in opposition to the ordinance. ''We personally care about her home owner, we go to every closing on homes that we build.'' Maybe you can be there for the closing of the schools as well and say that you cared about the area.
Last night the City of Pickerington held its City Countil Meeting to address the discussion of the Community Growth Plan (aka housing moritorium). Many concerned citizens arrived at 6:00 p.m. for the meeting. Councilman Bill Wright was standing at the door refusing to let people in. The swearing in ceremony for the two new council members, Mrs.Riggs and Mr. Sabitino was scheduled for 6:15 pm. Mrs. Wright(Councilman Bill Wright's wife) came in and told people that they could not come in. Did we elect her? Oh I forgot, we get you too. The crowd swelled until Mr. Shaver came to the doors and they let him in. I am told that Mrs. Wright told Mr. Shaver that they preferred that the public not come in just then. Thankfully he ignored her (as he should). The doors opened and the flood gates came in. At first it was a few of the older residents like Dorothy Steiger (sp?)who gave Bibles to the City and the Police Department. That was nice. Of course Mrs. Wright was there. She had a seat right away. Mr. Wright's daughter sat up in Daddy's chair. It was very cozy. The families of the new appointtees where there in the front row. Shortly after a few more city and county citizens arrived. Linda Yartin was busily passing out slips for people to speak.(37) Then the largest group that has ever attended a city council meeting came in. Members of the BIA (over 50 I estimate) came in and flanked all sides of the hall. They were in the back overflow sitting, standing and squating. They filled the foyer body to body, so that you could barely get through the door. One of the construction workers sat in a chair strategically in front of Mr. Shaver with his hard hat and work boots. It was jammed. When a name was called for that person to come forward and speak to council, it took about 10 seconds for them to make it through the crowds. They yelled ''I'm coming!'' Ladies and Gentlemen of the BIA all had their BIA house stickers on their shirts. Their attire included boots and hard hats and a great deal of dirty shirts. Good thing they pay by the hour, it was a long meeting. They made quite a statement. The Chairman of the BIA, Tom Hart was there. Their were several of the City's finest in the background to take care of the potential crowd if we got out of hand. The halls were then filled with a series of builders. Several contracting companies came as well. Several prominent real estate agents came as well. None of the local real estate professionals spoke in opposition. First to speak was Doroty Steiger who read an impassioned letter of her views, which did not support the moratorium. Her children was raied here and she was proud of the growth we have achieved. She gave her bibles to the City and sat down. Mr. Dennis Waley (sp?) came forward with administrative comments not related to the night. James Huffman came forward in opposition. Mrs. Karen Russell who has lived her for 16 years with a 9th grade son spoke out against the measure. Mr. Jack Hogland a real estate agent living in the City spoke in favor of the ordinance. Mr. Mike Donley of Donley Homes spoke up in opposition. John Dolske from the township spoke in support. John Alzner, President of Alzner Concrete spoke in opposition. He would lose a great deal of money if this passes. He was relying on the houses. Stephanie Brobst, township resident came forward to share that the ''vocal minority'' as described by Mr. Metzger of the Columbus Board of Realtors, was in fact vocal, but certainly not in the minority. Eric Shottenstein of Joshua Homes got up and gave a commercial on Joshua Homes in opposition to the ordinance. ''We personally care about her home owner, we go to every closing on homes that we build.'' Maybe you can be there for the closing of the schools as well and say that you cared about the area.
