Pickerington Area Taxpayers Alliance

Pickerington road project hits another curve
Let voters choose if they want to pay to widen Diley Road, council member says
Friday, February 11, 2005
Kirk D . Richards
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

A plan to widen a Pickerington road took another turn last night when a city councilman proposed a ballot issue that would put the project?’s fate ?— and perhaps its cost ?— in taxpayers?’ hands.
City Councilman Mitch O?’Brien said last night that he would seek to let voters decide how much Diley Road will be widened, a day after voting down a proposal from a political rival that would have put the issue on the May primary ballot.
O?’Brien, who made the new proposal last night at a Service Committee meeting, said the difference is his plan would require the public to pay more taxes if their preference is a three-lane project.
The council majority has decided that a five-lane project is best because most of the $13 million price would be covered by the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission and the Ohio Department of Transportation.
A three-lane project, which a number of Diley Road area residents would prefer, would require the city to cover the entire $10 million cost.
Wednesday night, Councilman Michael Sabatino?’s effort to place an advisory election on the ballot was defeated 4-3.
An advisory election essentially would have been a poll of residents?’ opinions on the issue.
O?’Brien said his proposal would be binding.
He said he would ask the county auditor?’s office what millage would be necessary to pay for a three-lane project over seven years.
O?’Brien said his proposal was in response to a perception that the council was not listening to residents?’ concerns.
''My personal opinion is that we have listened and acted appropriately,'' O?’Brien said.
Councilman Brian Wisniewski, part of the narrow majority that struck down Sabatino?’s proposal, said last night that he supported O?’Brien?’s proposal.
''If the residents want three lanes, it?’ll have to come out of their pockets,'' Wisniewski said. ''If this passes, then we?’ll re-engineer it for three lanes, but as far as I?’m concerned, this is a five-lane project.''
Councilman Doug Parker, who had supported Sabatino?’s proposal along with Councilman William Wright, questioned the timing of the new effort.
He said his colleagues should have mentioned the alternative proposal when they were considering Sabatino?’s.
''They didn?’t have the guts to say this to their faces when they had the residents right in front of them,'' Parker said. ''This is completely reactionary to save their political butts.''
krichards@dispatch.com



By Spending my money

Diley Road will go away in NOV

I see that the council is still working on trying to listen to these disgruntled citizens that live along Diley Road including Sabatino's Mom.

Now that his do nothing ''Advisory Election'' failed to get the required six votes to be put it on the ballot in May these three losers are now questioning the timing of this proposal. After all they are the very ones that planned and approved the five lanes in the first place and now they are running for cover. They are very willing to waste the expense of a special election of $8,000 for a decision that was not binding.

They have led a campaign of lies to get this where it is at and the poor people that live along Diley think they have found their saviors in these three idiots. Folks please believe me they are not the three wise men. I have always wondered why none of the Diley road people ever questioned William Wright on why he voted in favor of the five lanes and all of the other 9 ordinances and resolutions to widen Diley Road. A fact that Bill now denies.

How about Sabatino who's mother lives along Diley. Now here's a guy that has never supported a citizen's initiative or referendum in his entire life and time on council and now he supports this citizen's action???????

Is he being influenced by his mother? Who once applied for a change of zoning to accommodate a gas station and his step daughter's property backs up to the Diley road right of way?

Of course there is Doug Parker who is a political whore. He is very willing to say anything or do anything to get a reaction from the other members of council.

Now these three who were once were the subject of a recall campaign are now encouraging this Diley Road Petition group to recall the Mayor and the four council members because they chose to protect the taxpayers pocket book. Clearly they will be supported by the builders money to collect the signatures a M.O. used a few years ago to get Craig Maxey appointed to Linda Wilson's seat. I believe there was over $17,000 spent in paying the firm out of Cincinnati to solicit the citizens signatures for the Wilson recall.

If this recall is successfully then Pickerington and the school district will once again be the door mat for the BIA.

By Watchin and waitin

Will they do it?

If Mr. O'Brien gets his issue on the ballot the way he wants to word it, it will be very interesting indeed to see just how the city residents vote on it.

Will the Diley residents vote yes to increase their taxes so they can get their way? Will the rest of the city residents vote no since the city as a whole would have to bear the burden of the costs? It will definitely be ''put up or shut up'' time.

And just how will the three unwise men vote on O'Brien's proposal when it comes up for a vote? If they vote to put the issue on the ballot, they are giving backing to their political opponents while risking the anger of those who do not want higher taxes. If they vote to keep the issue off the ballot, they risk telling Diley residents they are washing their hands of the whole mess.

I predict that if there appears to be a 4-3 split coming down, in favor of putting O'Brien's issue on the ballot, the three will vote no, then say something like, ''We are in favor of putting it on the ballot, but not the way it is worded'', thus hoping to appeal to both sides of the aisle.

Oh what a tangled web they weave!

Can I just say one thing?

BRILLIANT!!!!

By Wide Awake Now