Pickerington Area Taxpayers Alliance

Well at least they saw through the smoke-screen. Since the document was worded on all parties being a part of it does this means Jeff and co. start over from scratch.... again... Keep wasting our city tax dollars Jeff to progress your own political career.

Lancaster opts out of proposed JEDD

Council cites contract length as main concern

BY JOE GIESSLER
The Eagle-Gazette Staff

LANCASTER - The city of Lancaster will not become a part of a proposed business district along the U.S. 33 corridor.

Lancaster City Council withdrew the motion - by a vote of 8-0 - on the Joint Economic Development District legislation at its meeting Monday. Councilman John Zekas, R-2nd Ward, was not present at the meeting.

Councilwoman Melody Bobbit, D-1st Ward and chairwoman of the economic development committee, is against the proposed JEDD in part because of the length of the contract, which could be almost 100 years.

''What if the (JEDD) ended up being not good for the city - it would cost the city. Then you're stuck,'' Bobbit said.

''We don't have the money to take that kind of risk.''

Canal Winchester, Violet Township, and Pickerington officials previously approved the JEDD; Lancaster was the final entity to make a decision on the document.

An entity could pull out after the first term if there is a unanimous vote from the other entities.

The JEDD will create a business district along U.S. 33 - just north of Carroll to the Diley Road area, and one mile on either side of U.S. 33 between Carroll and the Diley Road area.

Councilman Bob Hedges, R-at Large, said he hopes business development in the JEDD still will have positive effects on Lancaster.

Lancaster Mayor Dave Smith was in favor of the Council approving the JEDD.

''One of the big reasons for the contract with the JEDD was continuing our great relationship with the other entities,'' Smith said.

''We've really built a strong working relationship; much stronger than in the past.''

Smit

Candidates needed

Obviously this is yet another failure in the political career of Jeffrey Fix. Clearly there must be some level of panic forming in Fix at this point to face the voters this fall. Most if not all of the issues he has championed in the last four years have been failures. He has spent taxpayers dollars like it was ''free money'' and used that free money to pay for the campaigns from the city to support his position on these issues. As we all saw last November the voters rejected his position in regard to the income tax increase.

Now he is supporting and funding from the city a survey to ask the voters their position on various services and tax issues in hopes of finding a formula to ''SELL'' it to them this fall. He and other members of this council up for re-election have delayed any question of a tax increase until after the voters have voted blindly this fall. Once secure in their position on council in January for the next four years they will launch their new plans for the city and I am sure things will have deteriorated by then that services will actually have been affected severely.

Of course none will talk of possible tax increases (at least publicly) but they will need to come if we are to maintain any reasonable level of services. Clearly the scheme of the (cooperation group) of Sauer, Fix, Sanders and Sabatino will not work now or in the future. I understand they all must drink liquids with a straw because of all of the holes in their mouths that they talk out of.

So based on what the telephone survey tells the candidates running for re-election and who decides to join in the race for council we will have a very dishonest election this fall. So I would advise you all to lie to the telephone solicitors and keep your real opinions to yourself and save those opinions for the election in November.

Please note that today if Fix's 44th birthday. Someday I am sure maturity will set in.