Pickerington Area Taxpayers Alliance

Chief Fuller's answers pg -2-


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?

Response ?– The site for the new police department is adjacent to and abuts Refugee Road. The building itself will be constructed approximately 200 ?– 300 feet off and facing Refugee Road.

2. Wouldn?’t the roadway and parking lot be included in the overall package?

Response ?– No. The building and construction is not bid as an overall project. Each phase of the contract is bid separately but in accordance with State law. Through many reasons may exist for this choice, the foremost centers around cost saving measures. Our current efforts have resulted in well over a $100,000 savings already.

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.

Response ?– Though not answered Yes in the previous question, I will respond for clarification. The building will not have direct access to Refugee Road. Access to the facility will be through the roadway connecting to Refugee Road. The costs ($150K) for the roadway will be paid for by the City for that portion of roadway needed for access to the building. Future development costs will be borne by those developers of property owner?’s needing service or extension of the roadway.

4. Does the City, or do they not provide water and sewer to Big Bear Plaza, McDonald?’s, etc., adjacent to the police station?

Response ?– Yes. The police department will however not be adjacent to these facilities.

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?

Response ?– In order to ?‘tap into?’ the services you are suggesting the City would need to cross many property owner?’s lands. This is not practical or fiscally appropriate. Water and sewer services lines will be provided to the facility at the property owner?’s expense. The city?’s cost for the lines will be to connect to those lines provided to our new property line. This I understand is a normal and customary expense.

The amount of water and sewage usage by the police, whether on the road or not, is not a relevant nor legitimate question.

Chief Fuller's answers pg -3-


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?

Response ?– The Ordinance you describe appears to be the one necessary for acquiring the funding for the construction of the facility. Interest rates and terms change daily. Quotes for interest rates are limited in time. Bids are received and must be acted upon quickly. Certainly favorable weather conditions play a major role in timing and cost savings for construction of our facility. It remains our intent to maximize tax dollars savings during this project. From the start, I have strived to bring this project to conclusion with the public?’s interest at heart and to conclude this project under-budget. Should emergency language be necessary to achieve this objective without compromising the public?’s interest, than the city should proceed accordingly.

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?

No one wanted this project to start and be completed faster than I. This has been no secret, I have openly stated that it was our intent to move as quickly as we could and to complete the facility as soon as practical. Engineering, construction plans, site review, and costs projections are time consuming events and have been on-going over the last year. The ?‘whole story?’ terminology infers that only part of the story is being discussed. This project compared with other community police department construction projects, is moving at a very reasonable pace. You or any member of your organization are welcome to attend any of the construction meetings I am involved with and perhaps help us move even quicker yet.

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?

The monies generated from this levy are used exclusively for police operations and services as described in the tax levy. Interest monies are always deposited into the city?’s general fund account. Mr. Berry does not receive and of these monies allocated to the department through this levy. I resent your implication.

Response to Chief Fuller

December 7, 2001


John Fuller, Chief of Police
Pickerington Police Department
51 East Columbus Street
Pickerington, OH 43147

Re: Your letter of Dec. 5th and Citizen questions.

Dear Chief Fuller,

As the Contact Person for the Pickerington Area Taxpayers Alliance it is part of my responsibility to help facilitate finding answers to important questions that were previously posted by an area resident on the ?“Discussion Pages?” of our web site. With your current health concerns I appreciate your taking the effort in providing some of these answers, but am somewhat dismayed that other City Officials couldn?’t provide answers without troubling you. All residents of this community offer you their support in dealing with your health issues and appreciate your works to maintain the safety and security of this community.

When I faxed these ?“Discussion Page?” citizen concerns to the City?’s Public Information Director some weeks ago, I had indicated that she could easily access the ?“Discussion Page?” questions and provide the responses to one of the incorporated residents concerns. Since many of the questions dealt with more than police facility, operations, etc. it was felt that directing the questions to the Public Information Director was the more appropriate focal point. I apologize if you felt this was not appropriate.

I?’m sure we both agree that residents deserve answers to issues that impact them. The utilization of a ?“Discussion Page?” format allows citizens to help stay informed where other vehicles do not offer the same opportunities. Our organization works very hard to provide information and get answers. I appreciate your taking the time to help foster that goal.


Sincerely,



Bob Harding
Contact Person, PATA

Cc: Randall Hughes, Mayor
Joyce Bushman, City Manager
Susan Watiker, Public Information Director
PATA Discussion Page
file