Township Trustee Candidates Answer Questions from The Granville Press
Our community faces quite a few issues. The Granville Press believes it is important voters have the opportunity to hear directly from the candidates with minimal filtration and interpretation.
With this in mind, we asked each of the candidates for Township Trustee to answer some questions. The ground rules were simple: they could write whatever they wanted and we would publish their answers without modification (other than minor format changes and typographical correction).
Following are the questions and answers presented in the order in which the answers arrived at The Granville Press. In upcoming days candidates for Village Council and the Board of Education will have their chance.
Pat Kenny
What is your occupation?
Kenny: Route Sales for Mike Sell’s
What community involvement have you had in the past?
Kenny: Scouts, Red Cross, soccer coach & referee, GRC
What do you want to accomplish as a Township Trustee?
Kenny: Open the doors and let the people inside. We do too much in private without input. Real people don’t agree on everything.
What could the Township do to help the Village?
Kenny: They could become partners on more issues. Neighbors helping neighbors.
What could the Township do to help the school district?
Kenny: Through open discussions. Bike paths.
Do you support bringing water or sewer into the Township from the Southwest Licking Water District in Pataskala?
Kenny: Yes on a case by case basis.
Should the Village and the Township present a unified position to developers or should the Village and Township compete or allow developers to use one to negotiate with the other?
Kenny: We should have a unified approach to development provided we have unified goals.
Don Andrews
What is your occupation?
Andrews: Attorney
Andrews: I have been involved with volunteering in my kid’s classrooms. I have a second grader and one in Grade K. I have coached sports teams through Granville Rec and the YMCA. We have participated in numerous community events through Cub Scouts such as the annual food drive. Serve as an alternate on the Township Zoning Board. I have also assisted several property owners/groups of residents with zoning issues. I have volunteered my time on several pro bono projects.
Andrews: The Township and the Village have existed as separate entities and should remain so. The Township and Village should work together to bring to and sustain commercial business in Granville. The Township needs to keep downtown Granville as the focal point of the community. We should also work together to get pathways built to our schools and parks and outlying areas such as Kendal.
What could the Township do to help the school district?
Andrews: When I put my name in last year to replace the trustee who resigned, I met with a representatives of the school board, the village and the fire department to get a feeling on the relationship with the Trustees. The major area of involvement is to ensure that our zoning is properly drafted to limit the potential negative impact on the schools. I would also like to see pathways get built to the schools. Having 2 kids at GES makes the schools a top priority.
Do you support bringing water or sewer into the Township from the Southwest Licking Water District in Pataskala?
Andrews: NO.
Should the Village and the Township present a unified position to developers or should the Village and Township compete or allow developers to use one to negotiate with the other?
Andrews: I believe it should be a unified effort. The Township does not have the resources necessary to aggressively seek out commercial development. The JEDD is a good idea but needs to be properly implemented. Both the Village and the Township need to work together for the good of the whole community. The key is to get the businesses here so it is a win for all. We need to focus on the current commercially zoned property and not take away from the rural characteristics of the Township. Look around at all of the business parks, the only way Granville can succeed in attracting businesses is through mutual cooperation.
Doug Moreland
What is your occupation?
Moreland: Manager, international telecom engineering. I live in the Township outside of the Village.
What community involvement have you had in the past?
Moreland: Red Cross Disaster Action Team, 2008 Candidate for County Commissioner, elder at Granville Presbyterian
What do you want to accomplish as a Township Trustee?
Moreland:
1. Build out through the Township the bike and walking paths that the Village has already extended to its boundaries. Trustees have several hundred thousand in the bank today that could be used to kick start this. The Pathways Committee has put the top options on the table. Now its up to the Trustees to step-up and take ownership.
2. Look at different financing options. Why get a bank loan for 4.8% when the Village uses bonds at 2%. There are things here the Trustees can learn from the Village.
3. Open, honest, transparent township governance. Push information out to the community, and make the trustee meetings a place to discuss plans and intentions. For many years, all the trustees votes have been unanimous. This is not something to be proud of; this is a reason to be wary. Those discussions which are done in private to reach consensus should be done in public meetings with public notes, so the community can understand the divergent, even opposing, points of view. I disagree with my best friends on many things. How can three elected officials - all operating in good faith in the best interests of the community - agree on everything every time?
What could the Township do to help the Village?
Moreland: Finish up the Comprehensive Plan and then follow it.
Talk together about what is happening, and cooperate around development issues in the Township outside of the Village.
The "township" and the "village" are not abstract chunks of land. They are groups of people who overlap in many ways, including Rec Commission and School District.
The Trustees should be working for the good of these individuals in the community, not for the good of some abstract "Township."
What could the Township do to help the school district?
Moreland: Bring in development that grows tax revenues for the schools according to the Comprehensive Plan.
Trustees can be our best salespeople to the kinds of low-impact businesses that make sense in Granville. Start by filling up the empty buildings.
Then kick-start the bike paths out to the Intermediate School, under Route 16 to Mill Race, and build the bike bridge to Raccoon Park. These are all under the administration of the Township, and have been talked about for 10 years. I dont believe (though I am happy to be corrected) that the Township has ever put any money into a pathway.
Do you support bringing water or sewer into the Township from the Southwest Licking Water District in Pataskala?
Moreland: Since there is an overlap with the Village of the citizens that the Trustees represent, I would work with the village first for any water and sewer considerations in the Township. After that, if there were no objections, SWL Water would be an option. I would not use SWL Water as a hammer or a bargaining chip to impose a Township view on the Village.
Should the Village and the Township present a unified position to developers or should the Village and Township compete or allow developers to use one to negotiate with the other?
Moreland: The Village and Township representatives should present a unified position. They each represent the citizens in the Village, and in addition the Trustees represent the non-Village citizens. On a personal level, I do not see great divergent points of view with my friends in the Village, though I live on the Township’s frontier. Why should our elected officials have opposite and strongly opposing view because of where they live? The opposing postions are based on philosophy, not residence.
Dan Van Ness
What is your occupation?
Van Ness: I am a fulltime farmer. I grow 2000 acres of corn & soybeans. I also raise beef cattle, and have an excavating business.
What community involvement have you had in the past?
Van Ness: I am in my third, five year term on the Granville Township Zoning Commission, A Granville Rotarian since 2001. I also help with the annual Outville Antique Power Show in Harrison Township. I donate time and/or money to other causes.
What do you want to accomplish as a Township Trustee?
Van Ness: The ultimate goal is to provide the same or better services at a lower cost. To accomplish this, we need more public input with lots of ideas. I believe that no matter how well we think we do something, there is a better way. We just need to keep our eyes and ears — and minds — open. We need more residents involved in the decision-making process; that directly reflects the strength of the community. Better access to our public records builds more trust in our officials.
What could the Township do to help the Village?
Van Ness: You need to break down common issues separately and look for ways to increase efficiency. For example, the township could plow the villages roads in the southeast corner and the village could offset that by doing a township road somewhere else (such as Denison Drive).
What could the Township do to help the school district?
Van Ness: We need to agressively support commercial business. We have too many vacancies out there. We need to keep our residential density at 5 acres per dwelling. I like the idea of only buying a portion of the development rights on some properties. That would increase lot sizes, which usually have higher-value homes, bringing in more revenue for the schools. It would also make the most of our greenspace funds. You don’t want the township to end up being its own biggest property owner. We need to buy development rights and keep those properties on the tax rolls, not add to what the township has to maintain. We also need to get the sidewalk between the Intermediate School and the High School done before someone gets hurt.
Do you support bringing water or sewer into the Township from the Southwest Licking Water District in Pataskala?
Van Ness: Absolutely not. But I do support water and sewer from the Village to the township’s General Business and M1 districts for non-residential purposes. I want to encourage Granville Village and Alexandria to renew their water contract, because I don’t like the idea of the Southwest Licking Water District installing a line along Outville Road to service Alexandria.
Should the Village and the Township present a unified position to developers or should the Village and Township compete or allow developers to use one to negotiate with the other?
Van Ness: I would like to establish a committee which is really knowlegeable in the regulations of both the township and the village. Its purpose would be to meet with prospective businesses, to help them understand all the regulations and decide where the best fit would be to locate their business. We then need to help guide them through the process of receiving all the permits, etc. necessaary, so they are confident their business will pass through formal proceedings successfully. We’re competing with a lot of other areas for businesses, so we need to "sell" our community in order to make these prospective businesses feel welcome and wanted.
Bill Mason
What is your occupation?
Mason: Having retired from service as a teacher, principal, and 22 year Assistant Superintendent of the Newark City Schools with 32 years of public school leadership experience, that experience is currently being applied in my role as a Granville Township Trustee. Current responsibilities also include service as a part time (5:30-7:30 am) Denison University Strength Coach for the men’s and women’s swimming teams and educational consultant on an as needed basis.
What community involvement have you had in the past?
Mason: Community service includes service as a longtime former Granville Fire Dept. volunteer, Licking Alcohol Prevention Program Board of Directors for 25 years of which 6 was President, former Welsh Hill School Board of Education member, volunteer Granville High School boys varsity lacrosse assistant coach, Licking County YMCA Board of Directors for 31 years and Past President, OHSAA and NCAA basketball and lacrosse official 51 years, and twice president of the Licking County Basketball Officials Association.
What do you want to accomplish as a Township Trustee?
Mason: Goals as a Trustee include maintaining and protecting the rural nature of the Township, continue the newly initiated program to recognize community members who make a significant contribution to the greater Granville Community, continue the Open Space Program of land management, continue to work with Village officials in preparation for the expected growth along the Route 161 corridor and throughout the Township, secure the successful implementation of the Comprehension Plan, and maintain the quality of services being provided by the Township’s Roads and Fire Departments.
What could the Township do to help the Village?
Mason: Township Trustees already have in place a helping relationship with the Village administration by working cooperatively together on common issues. Our Roads Dept. works well with the Village’s Road Department plowing sections of each other’s roads in the winter, by common sharing of equipment when needs or emergencies arise, and through the proposed joint purchase of road asphalt paving contracts to save costs. The Fire Department’s service area already includes the Village and the joint exploration of a reverse 911 Emergency calling service as another example.
What could the Township do to help the school district?
Mason: To assist the local School District, Trustees should continue to meet jointly on a monthly basis with the Superintendent of Schools, Chamber of Commerce Officials, Granville Village and Denison University Officials to identify needs and issues. The Township’s prior actions related to the permeability of soil and water availability resulted in larger lot sizes which helps to slow the population of Granville’s Schools. Township Trustees, in conjunction with School District officials, are working together to determined how best to utilize the reverse 911 emergency calling service information effectively. Township Trustees need to maintain their working relationship with school district officials and continue to be poised to assist and respond when needs are identified by school authorities.
Do you support bringing water or sewer into the Township from the Southwest Licking Water District in Pataskala?
Mason: According to Village officials their water department is operating at only 50% capacity. The first source of water and sewer should be the Village of Granville. Other sources of services should only be considered when or if the Village is unable to supply needed services.
Should the Village and the Township present a unified position to developers or should the Village and Township compete or allow developers to use one to negotiate with the other?
Mason: The Village and Township need to present a unified position to developers when such is mutually beneficial. However, the local Chamber of Commerce will be in a position to help determine situations when development legally would need to be handled separately by each entity.
Paul Jenks
What is your occupation?
Jenks: Retired Executive.
What community involvement have you had in the past?
Jenks: I have volunteered extensively for Granville Township; am a member of the Board of Trustees of the Granville Recreation District and served on the Pathways and Walk Ways Committee.
What do you want to accomplish as a Township Trustee?
Jenks: I want to continue the work past Trustees have started in protecting the Township from unwanted development, while improving communication with the residents, maintain the highest possible infrastructure and to use my business experience to control costs.
What could the Township do to help the Village?
Jenks: There are a number of ways the Township and the Village can work together including projects that have already been started. The Fire Department, a joint reverse 911 calling system and joint purchasing of material such as salt and paving to enjoy the volume discounts offered are only a few of such projects
What could the Township do to help the school district?
Jenks: The Trustees already have worked with the school district to block high density annexation by Newark that would have put an undue strain on the schools, and I see other important joint projects with the school district that could develop in the future.
Do you support bringing water or sewer into the Township from the Southwest Licking Water District in Pataskala?
Jenks: There is already an agreement with the Southwest Licking Water District that could be used a pattern in the future for services to the Township. Although, in the future I would prefer to see those services provided by some form of cooperative agreement with the Village.
Should the Village and the Township present a unified position to developers or should the Village and Township compete or allow developers to use one to negotiate with the other?
Jenks: The Village and the Township should work together where and when it makes sense. However, that will not always be the case since the two entities long term goals will not always be aligned.
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It's the Pataskala water and sewer that will seal our fate
Let’s see… I want to avoid having Pataskala water and sewer brought deep into the township because I don’t like what happened to Pataskala (and neither does Pataskala).
Given that strong aversion to Pataskala-style development I will make my decision on Township Trustee candidates based in large part on what the Trustee candidates have said about Pataskala water and sewer.
Dan Van Ness and Doug Moreland are clear they will avoid a Pataskala-style disaster, while some of the other candidates seem to leave the door open quite a bit more. Van Ness and Moreland also have a good mix of business common sense, solid community understanding from being long-term Granville residents, and a refreshing openness to discussion.
the present planner alison
the present planner alison terry came from pataskala
along with the village attorney
i wonder why they are messed up there ?
and the rule book grows daily in gville
Don't you mean VanNess and Mason?
You say:
"Given that strong aversion to Pataskala-style development I will make my decision on Township Trustee candidates based in large part on what the Trustee candidates have said about Pataskala water and sewer.
Dan Van Ness and Doug Moreland are clear they will avoid a Pataskala-style disaster, while some of the other candidates seem to leave the door open quite a bit more. Van Ness and Moreland also have a good mix of business common sense, solid community understanding from being long-term Granville residents, and a refreshing openness to discussion."
Moreland and Jenks basically give the same answer to the question:
Jenks:
"There is already an agreement with the Southwest Licking Water District that could be used a pattern in the future for services to the Township. Although, in the future I would prefer to see those services provided by some form of cooperative agreement with the Village."
Moreland:
"Since there is an overlap with the Village of the citizens that the Trustees represent, I would work with the village first for any water and sewer considerations in the Township. After that, if there were no objections, SWL Water would be an option. I would not use SWL Water as a hammer or a bargaining chip to impose a Township view on the Village."
In fact, based on these answers, Moreland appears the most willing to connect Pataskala sewer and water to the township.
Not to worry with Moreland
Trust me. There will be the objections Moreland sets as the gating factor.
I guess another element in my decision process is Jenks’ willingness to split with the village when it comes to developers. Moreland clearly supports a unified approach. To me that delta says volumes.
You might also want to take note of Moreland’s commitment to the rural nature of the township. He has held that commitment for twenty-some years of residence in Granville Township.
Come on. At least be consistent.
And so it’s important for the trustees to disagree with each other, but not to disagree with the township?
These justifications are all over the map. Why don’t you cut to the chase?
Not to speak for Hal but...
Not to speak for Hal but I think he is talking about not allowing developers to play off the village and township against each other.
That's quite a nonsequitur
That would be a legitmate fear but for one significant difference. In Pataskala, Pataskala controlled the zoning. The provision of water to Granville will not allow Pataskala to control our zoning.
Regardless, it’s not likely to happen in any scenario.
The damage would be too great
Ohio is a state that is relatively hospitable to developers. To rely solely on zoning (for example, the one house per five acres concept) is risky. One of the arguments behind a requirement for multiple acres of land for each residence is the need for sewage disposal. I do not want to take the risk some future court would conclude that without the septic land requirement it is unconstitutional to require five acres per dwelling.
But there is another concern. With only three trustees and the practice of appointment before election I am concerned we might end up with a couple trustees who would support a change in the zoning for this or that project. That is a risk I do not want to take. Remember it was an appointed trustee who wanted to bring Pataskala water and sewer deep into the township just this past year.
Bottom line? The potential damage from having Pataskala water and sewer deep into the township is just too great. It would be like a nuclear bomb to our schools if a pipe started flowing. You may not think the odds large, but just as with a nuclear bomb I don’t want to take a 50%, 25%, 10% or even a 1% risk that it starts operating near me.
Strange
Does anyone else think it is strange for the Trustee candidate duo to be running together?
This joined-at-the-hip campaign seems particularly odd given that one is already a Trustee (for all of a few months).
eithics ? we dont need no stinking ethics
what i find strange is that ANY sitting politician can endorse another candidate running seems well ……unethical
after all isnt it OUR government ?
NOT there office ?
Not really
It’s not that uncommon. Three of our current council members ran together (a triumvirate, if you will) a few years back.
dude not uncommon UNETHICAL
dude
not uncommon
UNETHICAL
bike paths
Almost correct, Mr. Marley. While 8 feet is best for bike paths, narrow roads can have narrower paths where appropriate. Six feet would be adequate, five feet in a pinch. Just as important is a safety buffer between the path and the road. This takes up space, too, two or three feet at the least, unless a physical barrier (timber, guard rail a la Pearl Street) is used. Every inch counts on Burg Street and a thoughtful plan is needed. Right-of-way is adequate for most of a Burg Street path, so the legal issue is not the big problem.
Your overall point is quite correct. Parts of Burg Street are a squeeze. It can be done, though. It was done on Pearl Street in 1972 and that was just as tight. A dozen homeowners, reluctant to give up some of their yards, even signed a petition in opposition. Today, the Pearl Street sidewalk is so accepted that it’s hard to imagine life without it. I’ve talked to people who now live in the houses where opponents were. The new owners were befuddled by how anyone could oppose the sidewalk. They love their sidewalk. How else would they get around? Yet when you look at their small front yards, you understand the sacrifice that upset the previous owners.
The Pathway Committee will likely present its recommendation to the Village Council Nov. 4 and later to the Township Trustees. Most of the needed paths are in the Township, including most of Burg Street. The Trustees have long been pro-car and anti-pathway. They haven’t funded a foot of pathway in nearly 40 years. The Trustees say they are supportive now, so it will be interesting to see if they actually do anything. The 1990 Comprehensive Plan, approved by the Trustees, called for building a pathway along River Road to Raccoon Valley Park in the 1990s. The Trustees, of course, never did it. The Village, though, built all its Comp Plan suggested paths, including the Newark-Granville Road one.
I’m optimistic the easy River Road path and the challenging Burg Street path will get built in the next few years. It would be a shame if someone has to get hit by a car before Granville’s elected (or, in the Trustees’ case, appointed) officials feel get around to acting.
Another "Fred's garage"?
I’m surprised there hasn’t been any discussion about Van Ness’s seemingly serious conflicts of interest. He leases land from the township to farm. When the Sentinel asked him if he would drop the leases, didn’t he say no? Is this the township garage all over again? This is something he needs to address.
Then there’s this comment from above:
We need to buy development rights and keep those properties on the tax rolls, not add to what the township has to maintain.
We need to stop buying development rights and actually get something for our greenspace money. The CAUV tax collections on these properties are inconsequential. It almost sounds like he’s saying don’t interfere with my thousands of acres of farm operation (his motives might be pure, but we need more information). We don’t need any more million dollar smiles. Is any of his property on the target list developed by the greenspace committee? Shouldn’t we know this? As for maintenance, we could lease the land back to the farmers to farm (for at least as much as the CAUV, if not more) or give it to the rec district to maintain for the benefit of everyone.
Conflicts and conservation easements
About 70 acres of the 2,000 acres that Dan VanNess farms are leased from the Township. If elected, I think he’d have to give up the leases, as Fred Abraham gave up the lease he provided to the Township for his garage. The potential conflict and its easy resolution seems trivial considering the small amount of land involved. Paul Jenks, the establishment candidate, who moved here in 2007, is the father-in-law of the fire chief. The fire department, with its $1.7 million budget, is by far the township’s largest operation. That seems far more problematic.
On the issue of government-owned open space or privately owned open space, the right answer is clearly …it depends. It depends on the land’s location, size, cost, use, etc. In general, keeping farm land on the tax rolls makes sense. Farmers can best manage farms. The purchase of development rights to the Homestead Farm on Loudon is one of the best and most cost-effective purchases the Township has made. It limited residential development, kept a family farm in the family and, as a bonus, preserved a wonderful community tradition of hay rides and Christmas tree cutting. The purchase of development rights for the land just north of GIS worked well, too. Former Trustee Jim Havens was at his best in strategic acquisiton of land. The two most recent development-rights acquisitions were good in theory but poorly executed because of price, agreement terms, etc. However, these problems can be fixed going forward with a little more thought amd community input.
Simply put: Development rights work well for farmland. Outright ownership works best for park land — places people may visit or hike, such as Spring Valley, and land acquired for environmental or scenic vista reasons. The price paid can change this formula. The purchase of conservations easements can control two or three times more land than outright purchases — all while leaving the property in private hands. Overall, the Township’s approach has been right conceptually and should continue with some tweaks.
"His occupation depends on it"
I recently received a postcard from Daniel Deeds Vanness of Alexandria. Mr. Vanness indicated on said postcard that "his occupation depends" on the spending of our "Green Space" tax dollars. These comments are amazingly brazen given the serious conflicts of interest they represent.
"of Alexandria"?
Are you suggesting that because Dan’s mailing address happens not to be Granville, he is less than qualified to be a trustee? He’s good enough to serve on the Granville Township Zoning Commission for twelve years, but not to be a trustee?
Are you similarly prejudiced against others with non-Granville mailing addresses, such as the residents of Fern Hill or Park Trails, or is it only Dan? Just curious…
FYI, the mailing states, "Green space is very important to Dan; his occupation depends on it" - nary a mention of tax dollars. (Perhaps you just see property in terms of $$?) But if we were talking about tax dollars, let’s remember that those "inconsequential" CAUV tax collections are more than balanced by the minimal cost of providing services to that farmland. Farmers are a bargain compared with the infrastructure and services required once those fields sprout houses.
And would you please do us all a favor and stop repeating "conflict of interest"? Saying it often enough won’t make it true, and enough people have already burst that balloon for you.
When did Fern Hill move out of Granville???
I don’t know if this was meant to be a serious post or not. Your lack of knowledge of Granville geography itself leads me to believe you are not even local, let alone informed on the issues. Others here have indeed acknowledged the presence of conflicts of interest which need to be addressed. That said, I address your attacks below.
Are you suggesting that because Dan’s mailing address happens not to be Granville, he is less than qualified to be a trustee? He’s good enough to serve on the Granville Township Zoning Commission for twelve years, but not to be a trustee?
Are you similarly prejudiced against others with non-Granville mailing addresses, such as the residents of Fern Hill or Park Trails, or is it only Dan? Just curious…
FYI, the mailing states, "Green space is very important to Dan; his occupation depends on it" - nary a mention of tax dollars. (Perhaps you just see property in terms of $$?) But if we were talking about tax dollars, let’s remember that those "inconsequential" CAUV tax collections are more than balanced by the minimal cost of providing services to that farmland.
Actually, my recollection (I no longer have the postcard) is that the mailing states "Green Space is very important to Dan." It’s quite obvious that he’s not referring to farmland or open space in the generic sense, but referring specifically to our taxpayer funded program to preserve Green Space. See his comments above in the same vain. Obviously I have agreed with the benefits of maintaining farmland and open space in the township (and the school district).
And would you please do us all a favor and stop repeating "conflict of interest"? Saying it often enough won’t make it true, and enough people have already burst that balloon for you.
That you are unwilling or unable to see the obvious conflicts of interest at play here is of great concern to me. As I said to Don, a conflict that leads to a result you like is nonetheless still a conflict. Mr. Vanness’s statements with regard to the use of taxpayer green space funds have been biased toward benefitting farmers rather than benefitting the township at large. Perhaps this is not how he actually feels and on further consideration would state his views differently. I don’t know. I hope so, but I don’t know. But that’s the point. These are serious issues that need to be addressed, even after the election if he wins.
If you are unwilling to have an open and honest discussion of issues, even regarding those whom you support, without engaging in attacks, then this is not the place for you.
Give me a break
"Green Space is very important to Dan" - Does not seem like an issue to me.
Now, the fact that he used his middle name on something, that certainly is worth mentioning and is clearly a troubling sign…LOL
Give me a break.
Dan is correct
Dan is correct.
The occupation of farmer will disappear if we don’t protect our farmland.
Most of us in the township want farmland and farming to continue. The more land we lose the fewer young people there will be who can farm.
If you don’t farm you still benefit from the green space and by protecting the education of our children from one housing development after another.
At least he lives in the Township
If we want to go on attacking someone then let’s get it all out there for everyone. I would have no problem voting for Dan or Doug. Dan’s intent is to keep Granville rural. Preserving farmland is of major importance, not just here but everyone. Once gone it’s typically gone forever.
I don’t see this as even close to Mr. Jenks being the father-in-law of the fire chief. I have no doubt in Jeff’s abilities to lead the fire department and think he has done an outstanding job. What I cannot see is Mr. Jenks making any decisions which involve one of the largest budget items of the township. May be cleared by the AG, but seems like will be trouble.
You mention Dan lives in Alexandria. I believe he votes in Granville Township. Mr. Jenks lives and votes in the Village.
What about the mailings in which Mr. Jenks is quoting from the resolution touting all of his contributions recently to the Township. Who proposed this, Mr. Mason. Now it’s campaign material. Look at all those who work tirelessly for this community and get no recognition. And here they turn and exploit it for their own gains.
Also of concern is one of the early letters "in support" of the Mason/Jenks candidacy. Mr. Downes, who is an attorney, spoke of how ethical they are. Yet Mr. Downes represents a client who wants to possibly drill oil wells in and around the Township including at the schools. Seems questionable when you have letters of support and one of your clients has been in front of the Township Trustees within this last year. This is why we need someone independent to make sure the best interests of the Township are being looked out for.
I think it is also dubious when you have both sitting Trustees and Council members announcing support for a particular candidate. We need to make sure someone is elected who will not be easily influenced to go with the flow. The days of unanimous decisions has to end. There is no real public discussion as to many of the decisions which are made. As was told to me by a Trustee once, they are all pretty much all on the same page when it comes time for the meetings, that is why the meetings go so smoothly. Seems like a violation of open meetings laws.
Not sour grapes, just the facts. If any of them are wrong then someone can please correct.
Hardly an attack, Don
I have no issues with discussing issues regarding any of the candidates. What I do have an issue with is the hypocrisy. Just because someone is a "good ol’ boy" and we desire to maintain the bucolic nature of the township doesn’t mean we just blithely ignore serious conflict issues involving community assets and millions of dollars. A conflict that leads to a result I like is still a conflict. We cannot allow the ends to justify the means. Which, incidentally, is why I could not vote for Doug. As an executive committee member of a political party, he reveals himself as a partisan. Township government cannot be driven or biased by partisanship. Plus, Doug seemed a little too eager to allow Pataskala water into the township.
You seem to be focusing your attacks on Jenks. Why, I don’t know. If there are issues with Jenks and the fire chief, then they should be discussed. At least he has made an affirmative effort to address them in advance and is not hiding from them. As for any recognition he has received, it seems to be well warranted. I know I’m appreciative of the single-hauler we’re going to have covering both the incorporated and unincorporated township. I am also appreciate Dan’s work on the zoning board and your work in calling attention to issues with the comprehensive plan. Whatever conflicts Jenks may have, though, do not negate the presence of conflicts with others.
As for Jenks voting in the village (again, I don’t know why you’re singling him out), you are aware that almost all of the village is in Granville Township, aren’t you? (Don’t make me rethink my vote for you!)
As for letters, it’s probably not fair to attribute the judgment of a letter writer to the candidate he or she supports (present company excluded!). Dan had a letter of support just this week from someone who basically called the majority of voters in the township stupid just two years ago. Are we to assume, therefore, that Dan thinks the majority of township voters are stupid, too? I don’t think so.
All candidates should be vetted—not just the ones we don’t like.
yes man i would agree with
yes man i would agree with you whole heartedly
why pay full price ?
especially in todays market ?
now what im interested in is the bike path idea
and how they link up the schools with town etc ?
the question is
what is the plan with the bike path up and down burg street ?
i understand its to be a 8 ft swath of area taken from
the home owners on burg ?
is this correct ?
it only matters when it
it only matters
when it matters
and freds conflict didnt matter
Bill Habig, Jr.
Do you support bringing water or sewer into the Township from the Southwest Licking Water District in Pataskala?
Jenks: There is already an agreement with the Southwest Licking Water District that could be used a pattern in the future for services to the Township. Although, in the future I would prefer to see those services provided by some form of cooperative agreement with the Village.
Should the Village and the Township present a unified position to developers or should the Village and Township compete or allow developers to use one to negotiate with the other?
Jenks: The Village and the Township should work together where and when it makes sense. However, that will not always be the case since the two entities long term goals will not always be aligned.
Resign and appoint form of politics
Granville isn’t the only place upset about the establishment hanging on to power by having elected officials resign so their successor can be appointed. Columbus is in a fury about the same problem.
From today’s Dispatch: "The issue has been raised at several candidate forums because all seven members of City Council first gained their jobs by appoinment rather than election."
"Challengers say the appoinment process has fostered a go-along, get-along mindset in the all Democratic body."
Sound familiar? How many decades has it been since a Township Trustee didn’t get-along, go along? At least only two of our three Trustees were appointed, a mere 66%. We can brag that our Township government is 33% more open and honest than Columbus City Hall!
Here’s a link to the story. http://www.dispatchpolitics.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2009/10/19/copy/fullterm.ART_ART_10-19-09_B1_VVFDM19.html?adsec=politics&sid=101