Pickerington City Council and the Violet Township trustees are considering an annexation agreement, however the governments dispute the terms of the agreement.
In the city’s version, Pickerington would annex 3.3 acres near the northwest corner of Wright Road and Diley Road. In exchange, the city would give the township 10 percent of the income tax collected from the property and $2,500 to reimburse the township for expenses related to rezoning the land for business development.
The township would also collect its 1.7 mil road and bridge levy.
Additionally, the township would plow the snow from the area of Stemen Road near where the township’s maintenance building will be.
In the township version of the agreement, the city would pay $5,000 to reimburse the township for rezoning expenses and the township would receive 15 percent of the income tax. Most of the rezoning expenses relate to attorney fees and inter-office work, Violet Township Trustee Harry Myers said.
Council members planned to meet Aug. 23 to discuss amending the agreement.
"I certainly hope we can work this out," Myers said.
"I’d like to thank the township for passing the annexation agreement although it is different than ours," said Mayor David Shaver. "We are at the point where we need to work peacefully together."
Impact fee reimbursements
Council heard the second reading of an ordinance granting two businesses impact fee reimbursements.
Windmiller Square Office Condominiums and Barnyard Primitives, Inc. both requested refunds because they had started the building process before the city passed its impact fee ordinance.
If approved, Windmiller would receive a 100 percent reimbursement and Barnyard Primitives would receive a 75 percent reimbursement.
Councilwoman Heidi Riggs said she would vote against the ordinance because it would expose the city to lawsuits filed by businesses claiming that they, too, should receive refunds.
Shaver said that the only time he thought impact fees should be waived would be to attract a new business to the city.
"This is a dangerous path to go down," said Shaver.
Councilman Michael Sabatino told the mayor, "Certainly I understand your concerns but if you heard the testimony, the point was well established that the projects were well underway at the time."
Sabatino said the city’s staff indicated the exposure would be minimal.
Shaver said the city’s staff did not recommend granting the reimbursements.
