Pickerington Area Taxpayers Alliance

Thank You

Thanks for sending the questions forward. Are the questions listed under ''A Question for Mr. Bryant'' also included?

My reply - Anonymous's questions


Since my 11/15 fax requesting the answers to your questions I have received no additional information and feel that your questions do deserve ?“some form?” of a timely answer. Should additional answers come in after this (11/30) date, I will surely post them. As factually as possible from our focus team information I?’ve restated your questions and what information we have.

1. SINCE I COULDN?’T FIND THE MAP, I USED THE ONE FROM MY PATA NEWSLETTER, HOW FAR FROM REFUGEE ROAD IS THE POLICE STATION?

The road in question goes through the site from Refugee Road to the south per the ?“Helwig project?” site map previously indicted in Ms. Pasanelli?’s site information (which was in our last Newsletter). In essence the road goes south from Refugee Road past the station location toward the multifamily (apartments) and condos. ?– note ?– our webmaster posted this site map a short time later, after a technical difficulty.

2. WOULDN?’T THE ROADWAY AND PARKING LOT BE INCLUDED IN THE OVERALL PACKAGE?

Obviously the municipality contracting the construction and the construction management firm would best answer this important question, but one would think that a project of this scope would include access to the Police Station. How else would the facility be functional. The real question as to the $150,000.00 figure in municipal funds is how much is for exclusively Police Station use versus alternative uses?

3. IF THE ANSWER TO NUMBER 2 IS YES, WHERE THE HECK IS THE $150K ROADWAY GOING TO AND WHOM DOES IT SERVE? I HOPE THE ANSWER IS NOT THAT IT IS THE PRIME STREET FOR MR. BERRY?’S DEVELOPMENT.

Since an answer is not yet been received from Ms. Watiker I will not speculate.

4. DOES THE CITY, OR DO THEY NOT PROVIDE WATER AND SEWER TO BIG BEAR PLAZA, MC DONALD?’S, ETC., ADJACENT TO THE POLICE STATION?

Initially, Fairfield County Utilities provided much of (and still provides a good deal of) the services along the Rt. 256 corridor. A change occurred a few years ago when the City of Pickerington ran it?’s own water & sewer lines along the western edge of Rt. 256. This duplicity of services is noted in seeing fire hydrants on both sides of Rt. 256. These added lines were provided by City Utility expenses to the Cross Creeks development, although they services could easily have bee provided with access across the street. The confusing part of answering your question is that the Police Station site is approximately 1 mile west of the Kroger Store complex (south of Refugee Road) and utilities are not available today very much further than the homes being built behind Kroger and the newly TIF?’d retail businesses. The emphasis here is that the new station location is not adjacent to currently serviced areas.


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My reply - Anonymous's questions

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5. IF THE ANSWER TO 4 IS YES, CAN?’T THEY TAP INTO SERVICES THERE INSTEAD OF RUNNING NEW SERVICE ACROSS MR. BERRY?’S PROPERTY? I MEAN, COME ON, HOW MUCH WATER USE AND SEWAGE USE CAN THE POLICE GENERATE? AREN?’T THEY OUT ON THE ROAD MOST OF THE TIME?

The direct answer to the first part of you question is NO, as services are not presently available to the site. However, the answer to the second part of your question is complicated by the ?“Emergency Language?” which waves BGM of it?’s ?“fair share?” cost of sewer & water. Is it Council?’s intention to wave he fair share costs related to that used by the Police Station OR that used by the 150 Condo?’s and 250 Apartments......... or is it waving the fair share costs completely?

Focus team information relates the following ?“costs?” related to water & sewer lines ?– The installation cost of an 8?” water line and a 10?” sewer line has a low cost estimate of $35.00 per foot and $45.00 per foot respectively. Additional costs are possible in added hydrants, meters, and valves these figures exclude engineering fees. It is believed that the respective 8?” and 10?” lines could handle the needs of approximately 500 tapped users. Over this approximately 1 mile run these figures would added up and the unasked question would be as to line sizing should additional usage be considered along this geography.

6. IN THE PREAMBLE WHERE IT SAYS ?“IN ORDER TO KEEP THE CONSTRUCTION SCHEDULE MOVING FORWARD AND TO PUT THE NECESSARY FINANCING IN PLACE TO PROVIDE FOR THE NEW POLICE FACILITY TO PRESERVE PEACE AND ENHANCE THE WELFARE OF THE CITY?’S CITIZENS, THIS MEASURE SHALL BE PASSED AS AN EMERGENCY.?”, IS IT FAIR TO ASK WHAT THE RAMIFICATIONS OF THREE READINGS WOULD BE ON THE CONSTRUCTION SCHEDULE? WE PASSED THE LEVY OVER A YEAR AGO. IS IT NOW ASKING TOO MUCH TO HAVE 3 READINGS FOR PUBLIC COMMENT?

Ramifications of non-emergency would have been a standard (3) reading schedule of this Ordinance over the course of three separate Council meetings ?– in essence about a 5-6 week period, followed by a 30 days timetable for the Ordinance to take effect. The Council members can only answer your question of ?“is it asking too much?”.

7. DID IT TAKE THEM THIS LONG TO SET A CONSTRUCTION SCHEDULE AND SO MUCH DELAY WAS CAUSED THAT NOW THE CITIZENS DON?’T HAVE A RIGHT TO HEAR THE WHOLE STORY IN THREE READINGS? IS THERE SOMETHING GOING ON THAT WE DON?’T KNOW ABOUT THAT WOULD ?“ENHANCE THE WELFARE OF THE CITY?’S CITIZENS?” LESS? WOULD THREE READINGS CAUSE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO NO BE ABLE TO PROTECT AND SERVE?

The Council members can only answer your questions of ?“did it take them this long?” and delay caused by the right to hear the whole store?”.

8. WHERE IS THE INTEREST ACCRUED ON THE TOTAL MONIES GENERATED BY THE LEVY TO-DATE? IS THIS MONEY ALSO APPARENTLY BENEFITING MR. BERRY IN ANOTHER WAY?


This question ?– as are all the others ?– still in waiting for the 11-15 fax to the Public Information Directors answers. If I remember correctly, the Police Station ?“levy?” was really a replacement of funds issue ?– in that general City funds were financing a large portion of the Police Operation. The levy was more to the point of freeing general funds from non-police matters and applying levy funds more directly to police matters. The way your question is phrased is more in line with bond funds, which have more of an ability of accruing interests, and this may not be the case here.

Again, when the faxed questions are answered they will be posted under this heading as quickly as possible.


Bob Harding
Contact Person - PATA

Chief Fuller's answers pg -1-



Response from Pickerington Chief of Police, John Fuller, to questions forwarded to the Pickerington Public Information Director regarding ?“Discussion Page?” postings about the Police Station facility. The Chief?’s response was received by fax at the close of business today, 12/6/01. His letter and responses are being re-typed from the fax in full, and as received.

December 5, 2001

Mr. Robert Harding, Contact Person
Pickerington Area Taxpayers?’s Alliance
Pickerington, Ohio 43147

Re: New Police Department Questionnaire

Dear Mr. Harding:

On November 28, 2001, The questionnaire you submitted to the city regarding the new police department was forwarded to my Office for review and response. Since receipt, I have not been able to respond to your query, because of personal health reasons, until this time. I will however, make every effort to respond to the questions outlines in the fax forwarded to me.

At first glance to the query, I found that it was not so much as legitimate questions to an important issue affecting our community, as it was a veiled attempt to attack the intent and purpose of our new facility. Most questions were predetermined and appear to be a pretext to slander the project and/or individuals for vindictive or self-serving purposes. The questionnaire itself implies that the department is in a conspiracy with Mr. Berry and is finding ways to funnel monies to him through inappropriate and devious means. I am appalled at such insinuations and take exception to their intent. Though it appears that the questionnaire is more fault-finding that fact-finding and some questions and statement'?’ are obviously uninformed, one-sided, and lack a genuine interest issue resolution, I will make a sincere effort to respond to each question as asked.

Attached you will find the questions and responses to the questionnaire submitted to this Office for response.

Sincerely,

John Fuller, Chief of Police
PICKERINTON POLICE DEPARTMENT

cc: Randall Hughes, Mayor
Joyce Bushman, City Manager
Susan Watiker, Public Information Director
file