PATA History Pages

Court issues - Annexation Reform articles

OPPONENTS OF LAW PROTEST DEADLINE

OPPONENTS OF LAW PROTEST DEADLINE - included in the list of opponents is the City of Pickerington – 12/13/01 Dispatch Article

Meanwhile, Ohio counties most affected by the new state annexation law wait.

SIGNATURE DEADLINE FOR ANNEXATION-LAW OPPONENTS IS ON HOLD

SIGNATURE DEADLINE FOR ANNEXATION-LAW OPPONENTS IS ON HOLD - 12/18/01 Dispatch Article

The new law gives townships more say and compensation in annexation cases. The law is opposed by leaders in suburban central Ohio and Columbus, which has grown by extending utilities only if township land comes into the city. The City of Pickerington opposes annexation reform.

The BIG question for us here is whether this extension of utilities and services is germane? On the “Our Pages” section of this web site you will see the latest annexation attempts by the City of Pickerington. Both the (362) acre tracts to the north of the current city boundaries and the (316) acre tracts to the south of the current city boundaries have utility services already available from Fairfield County Utilities. The infrastructure is already in place. Now the city has “sweetened the developers interests” with additional incentives. Is using local government resources to encourage residential development your interest?

Citizen's legal action related to municipal taxpayer funding

Fairfield County Clerk of Courts records related to civil action against the use of taxpayer funds for statewide referendum efforts – Case # 2001 CV 00697

In a public hearing 12/14 Attorney Donald McTigue argues the municipal officials are "appropriately" using municipal funds in a statewide referendum. Attorney Gregg Haught argues that the right to referendum an issue, by Ohio Constitution, lies in the People.

Least we forget, as the lawyers haggle this issue before the judge, that this is the same group of city officials that failed to place the Ordinance of accepting all "newly annexed lands" with an automatic R4 zoning before it's citizenry - in a VALID referendum effort. By repealling this Ordinance the citizens were never allowed the opportunity to vote on this issue, all the while the city continues to annex and attach R4 (PR4) zoning within it's pre-annexation agreements.

Links

12/13 Dispatch OPPONENTS OF LAW PROTEST DEADLINE
12/18 Dispatch SIGNATURE DEADLINE FOR ANNEXATION-LAW OPPONENTS I
Fairfield County Clerk of Courts Case # 2001 CV 00697