Pickerington Area Taxpayers Alliance

First of all, let me start with ?“the opinions stated in Soap Box Hero?’s postings represent the opinion of the author only, not PATA?”. Label me an extremist if you like, but I am just exercising my First Amendment rights, for which I give thanks to PATA for providing me the soap box to stand on. They are just the vehicle through which I chose to speak. Don?’t condemn or malign the organization and what they are trying to accomplish because you don?’t like what I have to say. I use this pseudonym for all my postings. If you don?’t like what I say, don?’t click on it. Just move on. If you don?’t like what I say and want to rebut, please do so to my posting and not vilify the whole discussion forum or website. Thank you.

I have a couple of issues to address. I had thought about posting them singularly, however, the crossover between City/Township/Schools on most, if not all issues in Pickerington made me decide to compile it into one.

Reference This Week in Pickerington, January 31, 2001, front-page article: Congratulations to the citizens who exercise their Constitutional rights in both soliciting and signing the zoning classification petition. As Concerned Taxpayer said before, whether or not you agree with the issue, you can respect the initiative of citizens in exercising their Civil Rights and respect the fact that they chose to stand up for what they believe in, do something about it and not just whine about it. Now that that is over and done, and you can?’t change the past, it is time to look forward. Between now and the time that this issue is placed on the ballot for all voters to decide upon, please take the time to ask questions on the issue. Please dig in and find out everything you can, make your decision and VOTE. The PATA website contains explanations of issues in clearly understandable words. Some posters have shown just how polarized people are over issues. If you are one of those who believe PATA is biased, seek your answers elsewhere. Go to or call the County Seat. They are more arbitrary about making clarifications on issues that either the City or Township. Go to the Library and do research. It?’s free and they have numerous public records to utilize. Make your voice heard. City government has shown that they are willing to decide important issues without considering your opinion. Don?’t be sheep that are just led around! VOTE!

OK, I am obviously verbose. I understand and am working to change my character flaws. Since I am limited to 600 words, I?’ll continue below.


By Soap Box Hero

More questions

Reference the same publication, page 3 article: The animosity between Mr. Uher and Mrs. Oakes spilled over into the School Board meeting again. The publication used only excerpts in their article. Mr. Uher, since you have repeatedly stated how you stand behind your words, would you please contact one of our local media sources and publish the entire transcript of the meeting? Or perhaps post it on the School?’s or better yet, your website? I think it is important that the voting public hear all of what went on in that, and all meetings and not just what the media and their collaborators deem juicy or relevant or whatever yardstick they use to publish articles. Perhaps it is time for verbatim transcripts of all School Board meetings to be published for those voters unable to attend the meetings. It?’s public record and the Internet provides the technology to reach the masses. Plus, since none of the parties have anything to hide, only good would come from the voters getting better educated on the issues from the inside out. Mr. Uher, would you mind taking this as a task for the Pickerington for Kids Committee? You?’ll have to agree that it is a worthwhile endeavor. Voters could then keep records of the meetings and when they have questions, they could refer back to previous meeting transcripts for clarification. There is just the possibility that with enough information laid out in front of them, they could glean their own truth from it.

Since Mrs. Oakes did not represent the School Board in her involvement in this issue and since the petition dealt only with TAXPAYERS and CITY ordinances and not the schools, I don?’t really understand the relevance of bringing up the issue at a School Board meeting. I?’m sure there is relevance or Mr. Uher would not have done it. It?’s just that I don?’t understand the relevance. Mr. Uher, thanks for publicly calling attention to the PATA website, though. Even though it appears that you seem to try to convolute the issues and overlap them to suit your agenda, (just my opinion. I do not claim to represent PATA?’s opinion) which seems to be to cause as much confusion over the issues that only you can lead the voters to the logical conclusions, please take a moment and step back. Do you believe this is really the best course of action? Don?’t you think that voters who have a clear and concise understanding of each and every issue before them make better choices? Once again, let?’s not look back; let?’s look ahead. You can?’t change what has already happened.

Mr. Uher, believe me when I say this. You obviously have charisma and the desire to be in the public eye. Me, I am just the opposite. I am not looking for you to answer the questions I pose to you here in this forum to be answered in this forum. They are mostly rhetorical questions. I do not intend for you to take any of what I say as a personal attack on you. You have left your email address and if I choose to get personal, which I won?’t any more, I will contact you there. After seeing the discussion boards take a negative turn and get personal, I thought long and hard before I set fingers to keyboard again. I think public personal attacks are counterproductive and only detract from more pressing issues. We can all work together to be part of the solution, not the problem.

Yes, I can spell verbosity. Please read on.


By Soap Box Hero

Just a couple more.......

Reference Pickerington Times-Sun Articles on CEDA between Violet Twp. and CW. I sound like a broken record, but?… you can?’t change what has already happened. Yes, Mr. Hughes thinks, ?“it?’s disgusting?” and the ?“?…ultimate in duplicity and hypocrisy?” and Mr. Postage thinks it?’s underhanded. So do other people, but not all people. Isn?’t it time for damage control in a big way? Shouldn?’t the City/Township and CW get together to see that this doesn?’t happen again? Shouldn?’t the aggrieved City portray a positive ?“spin?”? Isn?’t that what the City?’s media consultant is paid for? Shouldn?’t the City be claiming some sort of victory and planing for the future? OK, take a little time to lick your wounds before you move on.

Are you done now? Let me ask about another issue. Page 22 of the aforementioned publication contains a small article about the City growing by annexing more land. 114 words, 4 paragraphs, page 22. Hello, did anybody read this? Was this annexation requested by the Landowners? Is it another hostile takeover? Was the public informed of the meeting? Did it consist entirely of ?“Emergency Legislation?”? Was the ?“closed-door session to discuss pending or imminent court action?” where you went to discuss that you were probably going to get the crap sued out of you for this hostile takeover? Can you afford it? Will the City coffers be able to withstand protracted legal battles between you and those landowners whose property you seize by declaring emergencies? If the adjacent land is in the CW School District, whose District is your land grab in? Water, sewer, City, Township, CW, CEDA annexations?… My head spins. Can?’t someone draw me a picture? Show me whose land is whose. Show me who provides utilities and services the area in question. Show me the School District boundaries in that area. Show me the Rt. 33 interchange(s) in that area. Show me the whole Rt. 33 corridor where present and any future interest of THE VOTERS may lie. Show me Pickerington?’s visions of business parks in that area. SHOW ME! SHOW ME! SHOW ME! Maybe Mr. Hughes was right, we are simple folk. Maybe I need pictures instead of words. But when the City hides behind closed doors and emergency sessions and legislation, how the heck am I supposed to find out anything? When the Township apparently, in the opinion of the City, enters into secret deals with other entities, how will I know if it was the right thing to do or not? I can?’t sit idly by trusting that they will do what is in our best interest.

I have to ask a thousand questions and demand from my elected officials in the City, Township and School Board a thousand answers. Show me, tell me, or tell me to go away, but just say something. I was part of the process that elected you, I am part of the process that pays you and I am part of the process that provides the funds for you to operate. Can?’t you tell me what you are going to do and why? Can?’t you just honestly account for your choices, decisions and actions?

OK, bring on the attacks. I?’ll try and answer them one by one. Remember that these are my opinions and those of a number of voters I have spoken to. You don?’t have to agree with me and you don?’t have to read what I write. Just don?’t sit there in front of your computer and do nothing. Ask questions. Get involved. Get informed and most importantly, VOTE!


By Soap Box Hero

Voter Education

I?’ll be the first to compliment Soap Box Hero for expressing his/her opinions in a well-written manner. In fact, I probably agree with more of what he or she said than disagree. I definitely agree with his/her efforts toward voter education on the issues and his/her urging citizens to vote!

As a city resident and an outstanding community citizen, I admire Rita Ricketts?’ efforts in the petition drive. Just due to her endorsement, I think the issue probably warrants a public vote. Ricketts has a tremendous amount of credibility.

I agree with Soap Box Hero?’s statement about the public's need for information about our school board meetings. Currently, the public can request audio tapes at costs of all meetings through the District Treasurer?’s office. For a nominal amount, I have purchased several tapes of meetings. To pay a transcriber to type the words of the frequently lengthy meetings and post them on a public website, would be cost prohibitive. The public would benefit more from videos of meetings so they can see the massive amount of non-verbal communication that happen at board meetings.

Soap Box Hero should ask Bob Harding ?‘relevance of bringing up the issue (of Mrs. Oakes participation in the petition drive) at a School Board meeting.?’ I brought it up because Harding praised her organization in the petition drive at the January 12th board meeting. On January 29th, I reacted to Harding?’s praise and, obviously, got more publicity.

Mrs. Oakes is the only public official that I have little respect for. And, I could write volumes of the damage she has done to our school district. She is a very bitter and unfocused person. The truth is many consider her a snake with poison venom. Contrary to recent newspaper articles, I do have respect for Dr. Rigelman. In the four years, he has served on our board I have gotten along fine with him and did frequently meet with him over lunch to discuss school issues. I have told him privately and publicly I don?’t like the manner in which he has treated our superintendent, his private e-mails from Bank One on financing the bond issue and his very vocal opposition to the school issue last fall. If he would be a little less hostile towards others, he would have a lot to offer our board and the public. He is very bright and articulate and we need individuals like him on our board. His goal of getting more public input into the budgetary process is worthwhile. I more frequently agree with his issues than not.

The better informed the public is the better decision they will make at the ballot box. I will help the public understand Oakes?’ record and her actions. If the public understands she would rather discuss pizza sales that involve no taxpayers dollars at board meetings rather than focusing on the $40 million in taxpayer dollars to educate our 7600 students and still votes for her, that is fine with me. The public will have made an informed choice. I?’m only concerned they know what their vote gets them.