Pickerington Area Taxpayers Alliance

Bruce,

Did you catch the quote from Sam & Betty Turner about information from the Pickerington Board of Education? ''?… be sure the (Pickerington) school board won't inform us,'' Sam & Betty Turner.

The comment reminded me of the promise you gave us a while back. ''We hope to load this type of information (financial information and board minutes) on the PLSD's web site soon. This will save Vince Utterback and his staff considerable time, and also help deepen public understanding of, and involvement in, the PLSD's finances.''

When you promised 'soon', did you mean:

1. In a week?

2. In a month?

3. In a year?

4. Some time this century?

I hope you don?’t think this posting is trying to intimidate you to post financial information and the board minutes on PLSD website or for that matter implement any of the savings suggested by the Auditor of State. I just think it is wise public policy.

Stop the dribble

Mark,


You offer nothing new and show little or no understanding of the current school funding crisis. It seems interesting that you talk about being so concerned about the school community yet when the Township Trustees put on a very informative meeting yesterday at the Heritage school you and your 800 sport fanitics were not present. Those attending this meeting were trying to figure out a way to provide tax revenues to provide some of the activities you and your teenage friends want. Yet you were not there. WHY?

Maybe you think getting quoted on the front page of the dispatch solves the local funding problems.I don't know how many times you have to be told that impact fees for schools have failed here in Ohio every time they are tried. If you would have attended yesterday's meeting you would have learned the reasons why presented by some very competent attorneys instead of the speculation you continue to spread on this web site.

They stated yesterday if those bulders want to donate $5,000 per lot then the school I am sure will accept it if there are no strings attached after all we are all taxpayers and the elected school board should determine where that money is spent.

Instead of trying to harrass Gail Oakes and Bruce Rigelman why don't you try to understand the problems and help find the solution? The solution involves your friends and fellow members of the PACC. Since they stroke your ego I doubt you will give that up. You will continue to support the builders and try to divert the locals so the builders you represent will not be restricted in the number of homes they build each year. Some of us will bite others of won't

What happens if they submit the moratorium initiative the first week of the Parade of Homes? You think that will steal the headlines from your builder buddies?

By Dr. Pepper

Dear Dr. Pepper


Dear Dr. Pepper,

I would have really liked to attend the Trustee meeting, yesterday. However, I had made plans months ago to return my 82-year old mom back to Wooster on Sunday afternoon following her coming down to celebrate her grandson's graduation from Pickerington High School.

To be frank, it was rather a poor weekend to schedule such a meeting considering hundreds were involved with family, neighbors, and friends celebrating the best and last class ever to graduate from Pickerington High School.

Some one didn't look at a school calendar or they did not care if people could attend the meeting or not.

Yes, impact fees have failed to gain support in the past ... however in view of the weakened economy and the mood among legislators to help schools without more money, it is a different day and age.

Again, would you like to meet next Tuesday to discuss giving the school board the authority to levy impact fees or would you like to talk about Hank, dribble, black trucks and what a marvelous job Oakes has done on the board? It is your choice, Dr. Pepper. You can e-mail me off line or should I e-mail you again?

Just My Point of View...

Mr. Uher,

I have attended many PLSD meetings when very few of our residents bothered to show up until recently. I heard yourself and the former majority of the school board speak on the the absolute need for top notch facilities at the proposed new schools, while Ms. Oakes and Mr. Rigelman called for fiscal responsibility. I find it incredible that they are now in some way responsible for our financial troubles.

The true problem is that individuals both elected and self appointed, have allowed growth to be the driving factor in this community. The bottom line is that many people were and are looking to make a quick buck and are not concerned about the aftermath. Where do you stand? Can you honestly state that the builders have not done everything to make sure that they have donated money to the right organizations and politicians to get the results they desire.

To believe that some how the builders and those seeking to profit from the building are not going to do everything in their power to continue the status quo is either niave ot foolish. Impact fees are great for one year, what do we do for the other 11 years a child is attending school?

When all is said and done the bottom line is that as long as the State of Ohio finances education on the backs of property owners we can only support the number of students that we in the community can pay for. Are you willing to at least publicly acknowledge this fact?

The builders and our City council (minus 2) are now promoting the CA as our savior. They try to convince us that they are contributing to the community. The new home owners are the ones footing the bill, not the developer and their cronies. I would consider your position on the levy and other issues if you can at least acknowledge who is to blame for the mess we find ourselves in!

The sad part of this whole situation is that there were some people warning the community of what was coming but were ignored. Guess what? They were right and a vast majority of those that are still sitting in elected positions and their cronies that worked to promote the development have hurt this school district tremendously. Which ones do you now support Mr. Uher?