Pickerington Area Taxpayers Alliance

This is a copy of a posting I put under ''Were you pulling our leg''. In light of Mr. Nugent's comments and many others regarding the people from outside the City taking advantage of the City residents and my apparent lack of comprehension of the feelings and thought processes behind the attitude, I thought it would be appropriate to give this its own forum. I titled it Merger Survey because Mr. Parker from the City Council still talks about a merger between the City and Township like it is inevitable.

I don?’t feel taken advantage of by dutifully paying my 1%, or as Mr. Nugent corrected me, .5% tax to live in this City for as long as I have and then have trespassers from ?“outside?” invade my space and use my stuff. But that is just me. How do others feel?


Ms. Stang,

You may have read the discussion I had with Mr. Nugent in another string. In that, he expressed his dismay in Township residents taking advantage of the City taxpayers in using things that City residents pay for but using them for free. I can?’t, for the life of me, understand this attitude. Having once been a Township resident and now a City resident, I think I can see both sides. That prompts me to ask you a few questions. I am not asking you to represent every Township resident in your answers but I am curious nonetheless.

Do you feel you are taking advantage of me (for purposes of these questions I?’ll refer to myself as a City taxpaying resident) when you drive across the City limit and use my roads?

Would you be for or against to paying a toll to use my roads?

If you are against paying a toll, would you mind driving in one lane only that is not plowed or salted or kept in the pristine condition that all other City roads are in?

When you enter one of my parks, would you mind paying to park your car and then maybe an hourly fee for your child?’s access to my playground or tennis courts or fishing hole?

If we annexed the area you live in tomorrow, would you be more satisfied with your police and fire protection that you are now? Would you be more satisfied with snow removal?

I?’m really trying to think of other things I get for my 1% that you are getting for free but I am running out of ideas.

If we put up barriers and security checkpoints around the City and kept all interlopers out, would that make the City more desirable to you to entice you to move in? If we then called ourselves a ?“gated community?” would that give you a sense of pride to say you were from Pickerington and all intruders will be shot on sight?

And last but not least?…?…Would you be in favor of a merger between the City of Pickerington and all she offers and Violet Township?

Thank you for taking the time to complete this survey. Your opinion is valuable.


Now, if there are any other Township residents that want to take this survey, feel free.


By Maverick

Boring.........

I think bickering (or inciting bickering) between the City & Township doesn't do anything to enhance the sense of community we need everywhere - City & Township.

It seems PLSD (city & township) will continue to see high growth because of it's strong track record. This makes the area within the PLSD very desirable for developers both in the City & Township. I don't think this would be a bad thing if there was a Comprehensive Growth Plan to maintain the infrastructure needed in both the Township & City to support the needs of the new development. Schools, Fire, Police, Roads, Sewer, Parks, Pool, etc.....

I went to a neighborhood school & would like the same thing for my children. I didn't go to school in a trailer & have higher hopes for my kids as well. I wonder if it doesn't violate sometype of zoning code - the elementary schools look like trailer parks....

Maybe a moratorium on building is a good idea until our collective (City & Township & School Board) ducks are in a row with a comprehensive growth plan that works together. It makes sense that a great community takes care of it's kids first.

I Agree!

I agree 110%. I am not trying to incite bickering. I am truly just trying to understand the animosity that exists between some City residents and some Township residents. I never thought of them as us or them. Just like I never thought of the dreaded ?“Columbus?” people in PLSD as outsiders. Why in the world would some City Officials and numerous private citizens continue to publicly castigate the Township residents for coming on our turf and attending our meetings? I was awestruck at the ?“Meet the Candidates?” night back in November sponsored by the PACC when candidates talked about the outside troublemakers in front of a room that was at least 50% ?“them?”.

Anyway, perhaps the merger survey was in bad taste but it is so frustrating to not be able to get beyond ?“them and us?” in any conversation. I lived here when Pickerington was a village and there was no income tax. Everyone seemed to get along fine then. What has changed? I?’ll tell you. The people in City management have changed. I think that their attitudes and statements and actions have fostered this division between al the residents of the community. I can only hope that with future elections voters set out to change the attitudes and vote to unite the community into a cohesive force capable of dealing with the legacy being written as we speak by the current managers.


By Maverick

o.k.

Maverick:

Do you know James Garner personally? Just wondering.

That aside, I have to say that there are plenty of people who complain about how the City does things improperly, but I never read about anything good that the City does. Are you and the other compadres just a bunch of survivalists who don't want to pay taxes? Or are you all just frusrated public policy wannabees?

It would be nice to read some positive suggestions, real ideas, and not just constant criticism. Maybe that type of discourse would prove more fruitful