PATA History Pages Home Page Our Info Contact Us Our Newsletter Hit Report Interactive Areas Calendar Discussion Area Member Pages Our PDFs HB 299 proposed School Impact Fees 2005 Facilites Review Committee Report Ricketts Smith Retail Rezoning Application Precinct Voting Map for Failed Bond Levy Diley Town Center Advertisement Our Pages Pending Annexation Issues in the spotlight of OEC Pickerington Ponds Threatened Again by Housing Development Quality of Life in our Community Hangs in the Balance Costs of Community Services....See how much it costs you! Violet Township Big Box Retail Rezoning Site Plan Well field Expansion Threatens Pickerington Ponds Merger Meeting excerpts from Attorney Richard Brahm See Your PLSD School Taxes as Percentage of Income November 2005 Election Issues Information Growth Management and Capital Improvement PDF Suburban Blight, coming to a neigborhood near you BIG BEAR USE Referendum update R-burg Zoning Referndum Goes to Supreme Court City Sets PLAN in motion to widen SR 256 HB299 School Impact Fee Bill Facilites Committee Report PDF Fairfied County Judge Throws Out Roshon Farm Rezoning Former Local Officials Continue to Push Development Outside City New Court Ruling May Affect Municipal and Township Road Projects 167 MORE Homes in the PLSD-Violet Township Zoning Hearing Builders Sway Legislators, Push for Further SPRAWLBURBIA School Bond Issue to go on May Ballot Diley Road Saga continues 2/17 addition Lawsuit Settlement Final Goes to Judge School Board Seeks Public Input 2/10/05 at Central HS. PLSD Short Term Options County Sales Tax Issue one Questions and Answers LEG Diley Rd. Referendum Press Release/City of Pickerington Ohio Poised to cut funding from Cities and Townships Sewer Expansion Update Tentative BIA Lawsuit Settlement BIA Attorneys speak on pending lawsuit settlement Sewer Overflow Problems In Pickerington Complete Fairfield County Election Results Polling Place Locations Online Issue 28 School Bond pros and cons 2004 Questions and Issues 2004 Ballot Candidates Violet Township/City of Pickerington Annextion agreement Sprawl Threatens Area with Alarming Land Gobble Violet Township Landowners Attempt to add 480 homes to PLSD Meeting to Oppose Housing Developments in the PLSD Announced Zoning Issue off Ballot Zoning Referendum Opposed by Developer ORRD Press Release regarding Roshon Estates Issue Roshon Referendum Under Microscope 362 Annexation Lawsuit settlement City Pursues Federal Dollars to widen Diley Road from 256 to 33 Roshon Development facing Referndum Attempt New City Manager Selected Diley Road Widening Plan possibly changes BIA LOSES AGAIN Pickerington Central involved in Athletic Charity Ponzi Scheme ODOT Traffic Study for I-70 SR 256 and East needs your input Limited Home Rule for Townships Presentation Diley Road Widening Comment Form CITY DEBT REALITY SINKING IN Township Citizens Fight Subdivision Sewer Plant on Shelf PICKERINGTON CONSIDERS ETHICS ORDINANCE FOR OFFICIALS New Hospital possible near Hill-Diley Violet Township Zoning Hearing Refugee and Tollgate Six Candidates Remain for City Manager BIA Loses Round One Phalen's opponent faces a challenge Developers Resist Impact Fees in Columbus Mayors consider ‘no poaching’ pact to lessen job losses Reconfiguration Committee"Keep Grade Levels the Same" Council’s delay on annexations doesn’t last long Sheriff Phalen's Opponent Creates Possible Web Site Deception Pickerington school hit by bullets during weekend Sports are Out of Bounds for Students Who Can’t Pay Regional Growth Planners Begin Work Fairfield County Debt Political Hot Potato Fairfield County Flood Assistance Contact Info Pickerington Web Site has PDF Versions of City Manager's Report Mitch O'Brien Selected to fill Shaver's Council Seat City Issues 603 Building permits in 2003 BIA Lawsuit Judge Pleads Guilty to Another DUI Sewer Plant Update, City Moves to Keep State Funding Alive Columbus Seems to Now Acknowledge What Many Have Known. Pickerington Sewer Plant in Significant Non Compliance of Permit New Ohio EPA Documents on Sewer Plant Expansion Hickory Lakes Funding Dead for 2004 Ohio Stream and River Water Quality Terrible North High School Flooding Former City Mayor Testifies at McAuliffe Trial Pickerington Developers Move on to Lancaster Why PATA exists our Vision and Mission Statement www.Pickerington Taxpayers.org Update Pickerington Area Chamber of Commerce Awards Snag over permit stops Pickerington housing project Pickerington School Board Liaison Responsibilities New Council Candidates Sewer Loan Referendum Rejected..Surprise :o New City Council Committees OEPA speaks on sewer plant issue OWDA delays Sewer Plant Loan Consideration City accepting applications for Shaver's Council Seat Pay-as-you-grow plan has worked in cities across U.S. Ohio EPA letter to Pickerington - Sewer Plant Expansion City of Hudson's Growth Management System Full Text of the BIA lawsuit Against the City of Pickerington More Traffic Inbound for SR 256/Taylor Road Builders should pay for growth, mayor says... Mike Coleman! Brice Road Failure...Forsehadow of Pickerington's Future? Builders Allege Violation of Constitutional Rights Costs of Development Impact Rocks NW Franklin, Picktown Next? Developers Outline COOPERATION strategy with New Government The PATA phone number has been changed! It is now 614-863-1547 Fairfield County Board of Elections Results Link Not out of office a year – interestingly cc’d – why? Former Mayor Gray -- HOMEWOOD REPRESENTATIVE? Schoolhouse Road Ltd (same road as the Kohler / Painter Farms) Yabba – Dabba- Do look who’s a wheeler-dealer $2.3 Million dollar strip mall acquired day's - name change 1 $2.3 Million dollar strip mall acquired day's - name change 2 A new Holding Company comes to town -- or does it? Is the former Mayor now a Commercial Strip Mall Owner? Right Image – contract Right Image – Requisition Right Image – Purchase Order Past promises from 'candidate' Postage 1999 Past promises of PLSD's Sigman Just a reminder–the 2003 directives from the Mayor pg.1 Just a reminder–the 2003 directives from the Mayor pg.2 PLSD Enrollment Chart Just how expensive is it to keep squelching Citizen Referendums Outside legal counsel uses the It’s Administrative dodge1 Outside legal counsel uses the It’s Administrative dodge2 Miserable Tax Base!! $10,000.00 of hot air Prosperity “sales pitch” page 1 Prosperity “sales pitch” page 2 Prosperity “sales pitch” page 3 Prosperity “sales pitch” page 4 BIA check and reminder of Mr. Kasson's loyalties The Miss-adventures of the Mayor – October $$ making City The Miss-adventures of the Mayor– September pg.1 The Miss-adventures of the Mayor– September pg.2 The Miss-adventures of the Mayor–August “after the Council vote Look who's bragging about the The Miss-adventures of the Mayor – June 'Water for Houses' The Miss-adventures of the Mayor – April Cooperation will help solve problems - 1 - Cooperation will help solve problems - 2 - Cooperation will help solve problems - 3 - Law Director denies 2 per acre - 1 - Law Director denies 2 per acre - 2 - An Ordinance and example of how C2 zoning becomes high density Findings of Fact & Conclusions of Law - - ? Director -1- Findings of Fact & Conclusions of Law - - ? Director -2- Grandma’s Pizza connection Lee Gray – Chris Smith Lou & Dave’s Zoning for ‘clients’? Pickerington's Fall 2001election contributors Sewer Public Hearing – PTI The history of Pickerington’s sewer Plant Expansions Projected Schedule for Sewer Plant Bidding and Construction Bidding the Sewer Expansion NOW page #3 Bidding the Sewer Expansion NOW page #2 Bidding the Sewer Expansion NOW page #1 Sewer Expansion Project Cost Estimates Pricey Pickerington Sewer Expansion Expanded Sewer Plant Facilities The fable of Pickerington's Sewer Plant expansion EPA Public Notice of Pickerington Sewer Expansion pg.1 EPA Public Notice of Pickerington Sewer Expansion pg 2 Story told to OEPA for Sewer Loan/Hickory Lakes Possible Fraud Gray Scale wording OEPA Loan application OEPA Loan application 1 OEPA Loan application 2 OEPA Sewer Expansion Hearing 8-29-02 Ohio EPA response to Sewer Issue page one Ohio EPA response to Sewer Issue page two Ohio EPA response to Sewer Issue page three Schools Fall from Excellent Rating to Effective Pickerington Wanting to Expand Sewer Service Area Developers Indian Givers Part One and Part Two Legal Opinion Opens Door for Township to Building Moratorium LOCAL NEWSPAPER Takes a Stand in Editorial! School Board to take Stance on Growth Public Comments sheet - Hickory Lakes / Sewer Expansion Ordinance autorizing Sewer Engineering Expenses +++ Community Authority Table (millage) - assumptions Community Authority Table (millage) 6/1/03 Violet Township Info. Home Rule - Community Authority City Budget 2002 Revenue page 1 City Budget 2002 Revenue page 2 City Budget 2002 Revenue page 3 US 33 Access Mgmt. Plan Discussion Item page 7 map Extended Sewer Service Violet Township Online Survey City Officials and potential “Land Option” conflicts Bushman 1 City Officials and potential “Land Option” conflicts Bushman 2 City Officials and potential “Land Option” conflicts Gray ltr 1 City Officials and potential “Land Option” conflicts Mapes ltr 1 City Officials and potential “Land Option” conflicts Mapes ltr 2 City Officials and potential “Land Option” conflicts Mapes ltr 3 325 permits and climbing Allen - Pickerington - & Hill / Diley Roads rough map Letter of Donation – After School Activities Planning and Zoning HEARING 7-10-97 pages 1 Planning and Zoning HEARING 7-10-97 pages 2 Planning and Zoning Meeting 7-10-97 pages 1 Planning and Zoning Meeting 7-10-97 pages 2 BIA threats Extension of Land Purchase Option. Citizens Initiative Outlining 2–year Moratorium & Growth Mgmt.1 Citizens Initiative Outlining 2–year Moratorium & Growth Mgmt.2 Gray letter City Ordinance Outlining Growth Management Plan Funding Sources for School Levy Campaign 1st Quarter City Building Permits increase by 185% Building Permit Graph tells the Truth BIA behind opposition to Growth Control Dominion moves to block Mandamus Mapes legal issues page 1 McAuliffe legal issues Mapes legal issues page 2 Mapes legal issues page 3 Mapes legal issues page 4 Mapes legal issues page 5 Mapes legal issues page 6 Ltr. Opposing Sewer Plant Expansion referenced in OEPA complaint RECALL of Misters: Postage, Fox, Wright, Parker, and Maxey Pickerington Citizen’s Initiatives for REAL Growth Plans Hilliard Mayor calling to Limit Housin Permits Bushman land purchase - Hickory Lakes Mid Ohio Regional Planning Commissions (MORPC) Data Past & Present Building Permits in our Region Community Authority Proposed, Not Including Violet Township Pickerington Local Schools Web Financial Status Presentation #4 Pickerington Local Schools Web Financial Status Presentation #3 Pickerington Local Schools Web Financial Status Presentation #2 Pickerington Local Schools Web Financial Status Presentation #1 CBR Points #1 CBR Points #2 ‘BIA behind Opposition to growth control’. CommUNITY 1st questionnaire page 1 CommUNITY 1st questionnaire page 2 Council Draft - Slow Growth Ordinance SVC Committee draft - proposed Slowing Growth Ordinance Local Realtors Planning "Support Growth" Posture on Moratorium Cooperation Agenda Items, City/Violet Township meeting, 2/22/03 Developers Fight Referendum Attempt on High Density in Township Competitve Bidding in School Construction Projects....What? City Building Moratorium moves out of Service Committee Comparative Residential Building Units Graph Violet Township Permit Statistics City Law Director Denies Citizens request Another way to keep Developers at bay Pickerington Building Permit Statistics Fox Glen City Law Director ingnores citizens request pg. 1. City Law Director ingnores citizens request pg. 2. Sprawl Threatens Way of Life in Many Places in Central Ohio Pataskala Residents Ponder Undoing City/ Township Merger Building Industry Ponders Lawsuit on Two Homes per acre issue Budget Scare Tactics 1 Budget Scare Tactics 2 City Growing according to Plans The Truth Part 1 The Truth Part 2 The Truth Part 3 The Truth Part 4 The Truth Part 5 The Truth Part 6 ? School site - Village of Sycamore Creek (page 1) ? School site - Village of Sycamore Creek (page 2) ? School site - Refugee Road (Police Station area page 1) ? School site - Refugee Road (Police Station area page 2) ? School site - Refugee Road (Police Station area page 3) ? School site - Reserve at Pickerington Ponds (page 1) Newspaper coverage of issues Sign of the Times - Discussion Page link REFERENDUMS DENIED - PAGE 1 REFERENDUMS DENIED - page 2 REFERENDUMS DENIED - page 3 REFERENDUMS DENIED - page 4 316 Referendum - page 1 316 Referendum - page 2 316 referendum page 3 City Manager admits actions subsidize residential construction. Recent Trends in Single Family Housing Zoning in Violet Township Links to news of today and (past) not Pickerington's finest Final Plat approvals by Emergency Ordinance Performance Audit of the PLSD pg. 1 Performance Audit of the PLSD pg. 2 On the Ballot: --- --- Vote and express your wishes. Plat Referendum(s) 5 Ault Rd-Rt. 204. Fairfield County Court of Common Pleas Contempt Charges Ordinance to Rescind & Re-enact via Emergency page 1 Ordinance to Rescind & Re-enact via Emergency page 2 Fairfield County Court of Common Pleas Injunction page 1 Fairfield County Court of Common Pleas Injunction page 2 Supreme Court Mandamus page 1 Supreme Court Mandamus page 2 City of Pickerington’s “Request for Public Records” form. Sanitary Sewer Overflows part 1 Sanitary Sewer Oveflow part 2 Regarding 362 acres, Pickerington heads to court pg.-1- Regarding 362 acres, Pickerington heads to court pg.- 2- Pickerington Official speaks out against new Initiatives Schools & Growth article links 1998 Residential Subcommittee of the JEDC - page 1- 1998 Residential Subcommittee of the JEDC -pg 2- 1998 Schools Finance Commission recommendations -pg 1- 1998 Schools Finance Commission recommendations pg -2- 1997 Schools Facilities Committee recommendations - page 1 1997 Schools Facilities Committee recommendations -2- Annexation Denied. -page 1- Annexation Denied. page -2- Ordinance # 2002-87. Council Members Recalled. Finance Committee does developers bidding Another PLSD Bond & Levy issue proposed Density (Zoning) Initiative Abatement of Fees Initiative Emergency Usage Initiative Attachment A - Emergency Initiative Additional debt facts Don't tax income if you don't provide income.. 316 acre annexation receives Commissioners adoption April - June 2002 Newsletter Cover Page City of Pickerington Debt Schedule 2002 City of Pickerington Debt Schedule 2001 Pubic Notice of Ohio EPA Hearing Citizen’s letter of Community concern. Agenda's & Minutes - Not in "Our" Town Lancaster’s promise to agenda access City moved quickly on agenda access issue Mayor proposes housing moratorium Legality of density limits questioned Initiative petitions again tabled by council members City of Pickerington - SCC pre annexation agreement page 1 City of Pickerington - SCC pre annexation page 2 City of Pickerington - SCC Pre annexation pg 3. Village’s (City’s) dissolve their government ?? In other community group petitions for moratorium LAND-USE RESTRICTIONS - Dispatch 4/30/02 Even more Pickerington Annexations -- burden of property taxes - Lancaster Eagle Gazette 4/16/02 Property tax exemptions for businesses - impact school's Pickerington Income Tax Report Dec. 31, 2001 Using the Boundary Committee Report ? Is it more portables ? Boundaries Map Option 1 Boundaries Map Option 5A Pickerington Law Director claims Null & Void 1 City Law Director states Agreement Null & Void -2- Bid to put Annexation Law on the Ballot FAILS Newsletter Cover page - what does it mean to you? Costs to improve roads harmed by residential development “Citizens deciding their own future” ???? "The Homestead" Agricultural land to PR 10 Canal Winchester Press Release pg -1- Canal Winchester Press Release pg -2- Canal Winchester Press Release pg -3- CW Mayor's letter to the members of the PLSD Board Double-sided viewpoints on Initiatives and Referendums Initiative petitions head to BOE Do citizens have the “right” to process an Initiative? Early February Newspaper coverage Utility service fight - part 1 - Utilities fight brewing - part 2 - Utilities fight brewing - part 3- Referendum Costs -- This Week Newspaper links Southern Annexation-316 acres Estimated Incentives Costs - pg 2 Southern Annexation-316 Acres Estimated Incentives Costs - Pg 1 Northern Annexation-362 Acres Estimated Incentives Costs - Pg 2 Northern Annexation-362 Acres Estimated Incentives Costs - Pg 1 Court issues - Annexation Reform articles Latest Newsworthy Media Stories Northern area Annexation Map (362 acres) Southern Annexation area map (316 acres) "Emergency Legislation" useage limits REDUCED TAP FEE INITIATIVE ZONING INITIATIVE Official's vs. Citizen's viewpoints regarding growth Helwig Project (including Police Station) site map Apartment Ground Ad Apartment Ground (and Condo) zoning letter City Ordinance to accept 11.5 acre broader spectrum of Annexation reform information Requested Correction of Information to the Pickerington Area Citizen takes legal action against City Officials Developer Influences & Myths about Growth More Communities are wanting Citizens voices heard !! Homewood's CEO letter - page - 1 - Homewood's CEO letter - page - 2- Homewood's CEO letter - page - 3 - Annexation Reform rhetoric or reality Annexation rhetoric or reality - page 2- Annexaton rhetoric or reality -page 3- Business First’s article (Annexation Rush – dated 9/7/2001). "Technical Difficulties" now follow a familiar pattern Map of 2001 Land Use & Allen Road Map of PLSD + Residential Construction Map of the 1993 Proposed Columbus Dispatch 8/26 article on development controversy "Mystery Community" Pickerington developments approved “by emergency” cut democracy 2 Sides of annexation reform Effort under way to stop annexation reform law Homewood's Plans for more houses Actual Copy of Pickerington's Reimbursement of Taxes Official's statements related to Diley annexation Pickerington Web Site seeks Public Input, errors Stop Comments Annexation Reform is signed by Governor Taft City at Debt Ceiling, Diverts School Revenue for Future Projects Merger Costly for Pataskala, Bold Moves for Picktown Next? City Plans 520+ homes .5 miles N of Canal Pointe Industrial Park CEDA approved by Violet and Canal officials City Promises Developer PR-4 for 100's of homes near CEDA area . Township Trustees to Vote on CEDA at Special Meeting on May 30th John Donley commits to forming Community Needs Foundation Amended Violet Township - Village of Canal Winchester CEDA Viola Park (120) acres at R4 Ordinance PLUS Pre-Annexation Deal Ruth Pifer's comments about annexation of her land page 1 Ruth Pifer's comments about annexation of her land page 2 Ruth Pifer's comments about annexation of her land page 3 Map of Pifer land , parcels in Hostile Annextion by Pickerington Questions Posed to the Violet Township Trustees & Staff on CEDA Parks Ask for Cooperation on Well impact on Pickerington Ponds City Poised to Annex & Zone Potential Commercial Land for Homes City's Road & Bridge Reimbursement Falls Short of Twp Hopes REFERENDUM ORDINANCE ON ZONING REPEALED BY EMERGENCY LEGISLATION Huntington Hills Residents Consider Sewage Treatment Options Annexation reform Pre-Annexation Agreement Weiser & City of Pickerington Business First CEDA articles VIOLET CANAL CEDA TEXT, read it and prepare your questions Pickerington Local School District Boundaries Well Test Pumping results delayed, See Sierra News article Wellington Pk. Plan, Updated, School Donation $ $ Proposed ! New Donley Development in Violet Twp, see the plan and analysis Map of Violet /Canal CEDA Area How to Post a Discussion in the "Discussion Area" Pickerington Invited to Form CEDA with Violet Twp on PLSD land Letter from Mayor about cooperation between Violet Twp & City Violet Township Poised to Increase Housing Numbers PATA Articles of Association REFERENDUM on R-4 ORDINACE IS NOT ONLY ABOUT 4 HOMES PER ACRE Newsletter Publishing and Mailing Information Status of Community Growth Summit Meetings Violet Township and Canal Winchester enter a CEDA Annexation Referendum - previous zoning commitments & The Ponds The Connection between Well Field Expansion and 1,000 more homes Merger Survey Results Our Hotlinks Find Answers in Our FAQ

Metro Columbus Clubs & Organizations PATA History Pages Diley Road Saga continues 2/17 addition This page will be assembled using minutes and press articles I will post updated minutes as they are available on the web. PICKERINGTON CITY COUNCIL WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2005 CITY HALL, 100 LOCKVILLE ROAD SPECIAL MEETING AGENDA 7:30 P.M. 1. ROLL CALL. Council for the City of Pickerington met for a special meeting, Wednesday, February 9, 2005, at City Hall. Mayor Shaver called the meeting to order at 7:30 P.M. Roll call was taken as follows: Mr. Wright, Mr. Hackworth, Mr. parker, Mr. O’Brien, Mr. Wisniewski, Mr. Sabatino, Mrs. Riggs, and Mayor Shaver were present. No members were absent. Others present were: Judy Gilleland, Lynda Yartin, Phil Hartmann, Chief Taylor, Patti Wigington, Kirk Richards, Jack Sowers, Tamaria Liddell, and others. 2. SCHEDULED MATTERS: A. RESOLUTION 2005-02R, “A RESOLUTION ORDERING A SPECIAL ADVISORY ELECTION TO BE HELD ON MAY 3, 2005, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY,” First Reading, Sabatino/Wright/Parker. Mr. Sabatino moved to adopt; Mr. Wright seconded the motion. Mr. Sabatino requested the law director, Mr. Hartmann, provide a briefing on this resolution. Mr. Hartmann stated he had been requested to put together legislation that would allow a ballot to be voted on by the public relating to Diley Road. Mr. Hartmann stated under the law there is only one way this can be heard, it would be an advisory election. He stated this meant it had no binding effect on Council, but would take a poll of the public on where the public stands and what they would like to see. Mr. Hartmann stated if you are not authorized by statute to put anything on the ballot, then the only other way to do it is by an advisory election. Mr. Hartmann stated that is the resolution before Council this evening. Mr. Hartmann stated further the issue had been raised regarding a conflict of interest with Mr. Sabatino at the last meeting. He stated he had the opportunity to review the law relating to that. He stated there are obviously numerous opinions on this, however, in this situation since it is an advisory election and has no binding effect, there is no conflict of interest. He stated this is because there is no direct benefit or direct detriment that can occur to Mr. Sabatino or to his family members involved. Mr. Hartmann stated he would be happy to answer any questions, however, he found as to the issue before Council tonight there is no conflict for Mr. Sabatino to be involved in the deliberations and the voting. Roll call was taken with Mr. O’Brien, Mr. Wisniewski, Mrs. Riggs, and Mr. Hackworth voting “Nay,” and Mr. Sabatino, Mr. Wright, and Mr. Parker voting “Yea.” Motion failed, 4-3. 3. MOTIONS: A. Motion for Executive Session under Section 121.22(G)(3), conference with law director regarding pending or imminent court action. Mr. O’Brien moved for Executive Session under Section 121.22(G)(3); Mr. Hackworth seconded the motion. Roll call was taken with Mrs. Riggs, Mr. Parker, Mr. Hackworth, Mr. Wright, Mr. Wisniewski, Mr. O’Brien, and Mr. Sabatino voting “Yea.” Motion passed, 7-0. Council went into Executive Session at 7:34 P.M., and reconvened in open session at 8:15 P.M. 4. ADJOURNMENT. There being nothing further, Mr. O’Brien moved to adjourn; Mr. Wisniewski seconded the motion. Mr. Sabatino, Mr. Wisniewski, Mr. Wright, Mr. Hackworth, Mr. Parker, Mr. O’Brien, and Mrs. Riggs voted “Aye.” Motion carried, 7-0. The meeting adjourned at 8:16 P.M., February 9, 2005. RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED: __________________________________ Lynda D. Yartin, Municipal Clerk ATTEST: ___________________________________ David Shaver, Mayor From the Columbus Dispatch 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." From This Week in Pickerington Diley Road O'Brien proposes bond issue to pay for 3-lane expansion Thursday, February 17, 2005 By MACKENZIE FRY ThisWeek Staff Writer Voters may get their say on the widening of Diley Road after all, but they may end up paying for the project. The day after Pickerington City Council narrowly voted against putting the project on the ballot as a special advisory election, one councilman said he thinks the issue should go before voters as a bond issue. "For all these months now, all they've done is ask us to kill the project or to go to three lanes," said Mitch O'Brien, who said in a statement at the Feb. 10 service committee meeting that council should pursue an $11-million bond issue to pay for the expansion of Diley Road from two lanes to three, rather then the five lanes planned. O'Brien said his message is, "OK, we'll put it on the ballot and here's how you're going to have to pay for it -- through taxes." The statement Feb. 10 came a day after council voted 4-3 in special session against a resolution that would have sent the issue to voters in May as an advisory election. The city would not have been required to comply with the result of the election; it would have essentially been a poll of voters. Council President Heidi Riggs and Councilmen Brian Wisnieski and Ted Hackworth joined O'Brien in voting against the resolution; Doug Parker, Mike Sabatino and Bill Wright voted in favor. Following the vote, angry residents said they would attempt a recall of Mayor David Shaver and some council members. "If they're not going to do what the people want, we got to get somebody in there who will," Diley Road resident Cindy Darby said. She said, however, that a recall would likely be a last resort. "I think we'll give council an opportunity to redeem themselves," she said. Parker wondered Feb. 10 why O'Brien had not spoken up before. "He didn't have the guts to say this in front of the residents when they were here (Wednesday) night, and this is nothing more than trying to cover their butts from a political fallout," he said. O'Brien said he had planned to introduce his suggestion at the service committee meeting because the special session agenda had not originally included the resolution. The Ohio Department of Transportation and the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission would pay about 80 percent of the $14-million cost to expand Diley Road to five lanes. City officials have said that funding will be lost if the city does not proceed with plans to widen the road to five lanes. O'Brien said the city will not tell MORPC or ODOT to halt or change current plans until council has a "better feel" for the opinions of residents as a whole. He said appraisals and engineering for the project will continue as planned. "If they are going to do it on their own, certainly MORPC and ODOT would want to know," said MORPC spokesperson Marilyn Brown. "We are aware of what's going on out there, so we are in touch with them." Hackworth, who chairs the service committee, said the same type of initial work must be done to expand the road, whether it is to three lanes or five. Adding two more lanes would be the least-expensive part of the project, he said. The city's legal counsel, Philip Hartmann, of Schottenstein, Zox & Dunn, said he is not aware of anything, from a legal standpoint, that would prevent council from being able to place the bond issue on the ballot. "It appears that they'd be able to do that," he said. Hartmann said the city has been working with attorney Dennis Schwallie, of Peck, Shaffer & Williams LLP, on the matter. Schwallie, whose area of expertise includes municipal bonds, could not be reached for comment by press time. O'Brien said a five-lane road is inevitable. "We're going to have to widen it (again) after seven years," he said. It is too late for the bond issue to go on the May ballot. O'Brien said that it likely would go before voters in August, unless the $36-million Pickerington Local School District bond issue fails in May and is on the August ballot. O'Brien said he does not want the Diley Road issue to be up against the schools. "We're doing it through a structured and orderly manner," he said. The Columbus Dispatch Diley Road This Week in Pickerington Privacy Statement Neighborhood Link Terms of Use © 1997 - 2006 Neighborhood Link, Inc.