Pickerington Area Taxpayers Alliance

It?’s amazing how much information is available at the local diner. Like this: Did you know that Pickerington Schools are preparing to make a request to the Planning and Zoning Commission of the city to move all the school buses from Pataskala to historic Olde Pickerington Village? Bet you didn?’t know that.

They are proposing razing the bus repair building on Center Street next to the tracks, purchasing the adjoining properties behind it and bring the nearly 100 buses under the Petermann contract to the middle of town. Now I am sure that many of you readers don?’t have to drive through downtown during pre- and post-school hours so you may think that it doesn?’t matter. Then there are those of you that do have to and you may wonder how, with the current traffic jams during these hours, can we add nearly 100 buses to the mix and have anyone come out the winner of this proposal. Do we need to move the buses closed to Pickerington than Pataskala? Sure, but is moving them to downtown the answer? I don?’t think so!

Time to contact your councilmen and the mayor. Tell them if you agree of disagree with storing all those buses downtown. Are there traffic concerns? Are there safety concerns with the railroad crossings? Do you want to smell 100 buses idling in the mornings as they warm up in the colder months? Do you want to listen to it?

If the Church Street neighbors who are going bonkers over the Minuteman Pizza are reading this, what say you about buses? Come on folks! Doesn?’t Violet Township have enough room for a bus facility? Can?’t the builders make a magnanimous contribution to the schools and take one of their acreage assets somewhere and let buses park there? If Canal Winchester wants our water, will they take our buses?

Let?’s look for solutions before the problem arrives. Let?’s have more of a group effort to help the schools without blighting downtown.


By Grouchy Old Fart

Other M?’Lees conversations.

It appears that Pickerington City Council is about ready to roll out their impact fee ordinance. About damn time! I heard they are ironing out their last one or two wrinkles in their finance committee and then are sending it to council floor. Well, Mrs. Riggs is the chair of the committee so I pose this question to her ?– WHEN?? Why are you holding this up and when are you moving out on it? The reason I ask is relatively simple. Doesn?’t the city need the money? From what I?’ve read on the study, the city sure can. More importantly Mrs. Riggs, you are holding up a much bigger picture issue.

Besides the four positions up for election this fall in the city, there are two in the township. The voters need to see how these impact fees are dealt with in both governments. The current council is making good on their pledge but only one of those up for election are part of that camp. How will the other three vote? Terry Dunlap has already said that he won?’t vote to pursue impact fees in the township. What say you Harry Myers? Since the township is Home Rule, they can enact impact fees. But will they? They face trail by fire with this undertaking, that?’s for sure. They will probably have to go to court to defend it. They would be the first Home Rule township in the state to try. What?’s wrong with that?

I can assume O?’Brien will support impact fees. I assume Dunlap will not. Myers hasn?’t spoken and rarely does. Come on fellas, tell us what you think. This is the traditional kick-off weekend for the fall campaigns. Make your case. I heard O?’Brien is running. What about others? Who is running for Trustee? We need fresh faces in the township offices. We need a new direction.

Who is going to run and where do you stand? Pray tell.


By Grouchy Old Fart

Transportation Center

While the area on Center St. north of the railroad tracks has been discussed (at the end of the road to nowhere), the school district is not pursuing a location in the heart of downtown Pickerington.

The location will probably end up in Violet Township. It will be within the school district borders.

All board members email & phone numbers are posted on the district website - I believe that any of us are happy to answer questions that you may have. Just send an email or give us a call.

Thanks,

Smoke filled rooms.

Patience my friend patience. There is an election this year. I am very confident that this council will provide the community with their plans in time for that election. I expecet you will see the impact fee ordinance very soon. I am aware of programs and plans waiting in the wings.

Most of things plans will be at odds with the old guard and we should keep a close eye on how they vote and what excuses they use to vote against these plans.

Keeping sipping the coffee and smoking your cigerettes (only in Pickerington not Columbus) and spreading the word we will all get there someday.