Article published Sep 16, 2005
Pickerington council candidates support impact fees
By CARL BURNETT JR.
The Eagle-Gazette Staff
cburnett@nncogannett.com
PICKERINGTON - Six candidates for Pickerington City Council said during a candidates' forum Thursday that they support implementing impact fees to help pay for infrastructure in the growing community.
''Companies wanting to locate here look at a lot of issues,'' Mitch O'Brien, a council member who is running for re-election, said Thursday during the Pickerington Area Chamber of Commerce's Meet the Candidates Breakfast.
O'Brien said he doesn't believe instituting impact fees will deter new businesses from moving to Pickerington.
''I don't think the impact fees will have an effect,'' he said.
None of the city council candidates who spoke Thursday said they were opposed to creating the fees - a decision that goes before the present City Council on Tuesday.
Impact fees are additional fees charged in the new construction of residential and commercial properties to help pay for infrastructure and services like streets and police.
But Bill Wright, also a council member and incumbent, disagreed in part with O'Brien and said he doesn't believe it's possible to know what effect impact fees will have until they are actually in place.
''We are in a competitive market, and I believe the key is to monitor what is happening to other areas and see if businesses are moving to surrounding places,'' Wright said.
City Council candidate Cristie Hammond said impact fees could be a way to help pay for the costs of growth.
''There are always ways to work with business to attract them to an area,'' she said.
A fellow candidate, Tory Kramer, said the Giant Eagle store in Pickerington is an example of the way companies follow growing markets.
Both candidates for Violet Township trustee at Thursday's breakfast said future development in the township is going to revolve around the U.S. 33 corridor.
Harry Myers Jr. and Terry Dunlap Sr. are both longtime Violet Township residents who are running for re-election.
''I think we have something to offer,'' Myers said.
Dunlap said the township would have to work with Canal Winchester and Pickerington on future development in the corridor.
Pickerington Local School District Board of Education member Gail Oakes was in attendance Thursday.
Oakes said she believed the school district was doing everything in its power to restrain costs.
She said the district has installed new lights in one school that are more energy efficient as well as worked on ways to cut down on heating costs.
''I think our budgets are in line and the superintendent and treasurer are working closely together,'' Oakes said.
Charles Lyles works in real estate and only recently moved to Pickerington.
He said he enjoyed the chance to meet the candidates.
''I found it very informative,'' Lyles said.
Melody LeCuru, a banker, said she always attends the candidates' breakfast.
''In a community like ours, you always hear things, and sometimes the media doesn't always get things right,'' LeCuru said. ''It was a chance to hear and meet the candidates in person. I think it is important.''
Pickerington council candidates support impact fees
By CARL BURNETT JR.
The Eagle-Gazette Staff
cburnett@nncogannett.com
PICKERINGTON - Six candidates for Pickerington City Council said during a candidates' forum Thursday that they support implementing impact fees to help pay for infrastructure in the growing community.
''Companies wanting to locate here look at a lot of issues,'' Mitch O'Brien, a council member who is running for re-election, said Thursday during the Pickerington Area Chamber of Commerce's Meet the Candidates Breakfast.
O'Brien said he doesn't believe instituting impact fees will deter new businesses from moving to Pickerington.
''I don't think the impact fees will have an effect,'' he said.
None of the city council candidates who spoke Thursday said they were opposed to creating the fees - a decision that goes before the present City Council on Tuesday.
Impact fees are additional fees charged in the new construction of residential and commercial properties to help pay for infrastructure and services like streets and police.
But Bill Wright, also a council member and incumbent, disagreed in part with O'Brien and said he doesn't believe it's possible to know what effect impact fees will have until they are actually in place.
''We are in a competitive market, and I believe the key is to monitor what is happening to other areas and see if businesses are moving to surrounding places,'' Wright said.
City Council candidate Cristie Hammond said impact fees could be a way to help pay for the costs of growth.
''There are always ways to work with business to attract them to an area,'' she said.
A fellow candidate, Tory Kramer, said the Giant Eagle store in Pickerington is an example of the way companies follow growing markets.
Both candidates for Violet Township trustee at Thursday's breakfast said future development in the township is going to revolve around the U.S. 33 corridor.
Harry Myers Jr. and Terry Dunlap Sr. are both longtime Violet Township residents who are running for re-election.
''I think we have something to offer,'' Myers said.
Dunlap said the township would have to work with Canal Winchester and Pickerington on future development in the corridor.
Pickerington Local School District Board of Education member Gail Oakes was in attendance Thursday.
Oakes said she believed the school district was doing everything in its power to restrain costs.
She said the district has installed new lights in one school that are more energy efficient as well as worked on ways to cut down on heating costs.
''I think our budgets are in line and the superintendent and treasurer are working closely together,'' Oakes said.
Charles Lyles works in real estate and only recently moved to Pickerington.
He said he enjoyed the chance to meet the candidates.
''I found it very informative,'' Lyles said.
Melody LeCuru, a banker, said she always attends the candidates' breakfast.
''In a community like ours, you always hear things, and sometimes the media doesn't always get things right,'' LeCuru said. ''It was a chance to hear and meet the candidates in person. I think it is important.''
