Prepared
Comments Made to
NORTH
CANTON CITY COUNCIL
March
21, 2018
ü Negotiating away public tax dollars
thinking that these actions benefit the community reminds me of the custom of
bloodletting that was practiced until the late 19th century.
No one would argue today that depleting the body's blood supply is not risky.
In addition to the danger of losing too much blood, the practice can
precipitate a perilous drop in blood pressure and even cardiac arrest.
Further, bloodletting doesn’t cure what ails you.
ü Negotiating away public tax dollars
is much akin to the past practice of bloodletting.
One may think you are doing something good when in reality the opposite
is true.
ü Water and Sewer services are basic to
growth and economic development.
These are services which have brought about the very existence of
municipalities in America and their subsequent growth.
A March 2, 2018, Repository
story titled, "Foreclosure sale halted for Meadowlake Golf," states,
"The golf course is being considered for an 'expedited' annexation into
Canton to receive city water…."
Clearly, City water is a valuable
annexation tool which is non-negotiable.
ü In regards to proposed legislation to
waive annexation outlined in Ordinance No. 19-2018, there is nothing to
negotiate – if OMNI Orthopedics wants City water for this property that abuts
the City's western border, they will have to annex, plain and simple.
If tax dollars are negotiated away to bring about the annexation of this
property, all future property owners who need City water will ask for corporate
charity in exchange for agreeing to annex into North Canton.
And that is exactly what this is, corporate charity. And I am seeing a
pattern.
North Ridge Place Apartments were developed by a partnership of investors
who took advantage, many think illegally, to extract nearly a million dollars
of public taxes to enrich themselves.
Now, once again, we have a partnership of investors, the owners of OMNI
Orthopedics, who want to extract public tax dollars from the City to enrich
themselves by refusing annexation into the City of North Canton.
ü Water and annexation decisions that
have been made by North Canton City officials over many years have made Jackson
Township the retail shopping mecca of Stark County and surrounding counties.
WHY?
Why does the City repeatedly give its life blood away in the form of
water, and then lament those decisions?
Just so we can proudly say we sold
the water that allows the Jackson Township business community to flush their
toilets?
ü Mayor Held, I commend you for your
remarks at last week's Council meeting that this proposed legislation needs
scrutiny, and that there is no need to rush as was urged by Law Director Tim
Fox.
But more importantly, I commend you for your comment that this property
is not going anywhere. If Bob DeHoff's prospective buyer, OMNI Orthopedics,
does not want to annex into our fabulous community without corporate charity, I
am sure Mr. DeHoff will be successful in finding a buyer in the future who
would welcome the opportunity to annex into North Canton without corporate
charity.
ü Mayor Held, I believe it has become
public knowledge that you are unhappy with Stuart Lichter and IRG, the owner of
the Hoover District.
Currently, the owner of the Schroer Group is also unhappy, and as a
result, the word on the street, which you have confirmed to me, is that this company
will be leaving the Hoover District and taking 300 jobs with it!
The reported 75 jobs that could come with the annexation of the property
desired by OMNI Orthopedics, should they agree to annex, would certainly help
to lessen the loss of the Shroer Group and their 300 employees.
I ask you to reject Ordinance No.
19-2018 outright. Municipal annexations in exchange for City water have been a
mainstay for economic growth as long as municipal water services have been
existence.
If OMNI Orthopedics balks on the
annexation requirement, the invite to annex into our fine community was not
meant to be.
There will be other opportunities for
North Canton.
Do not poison the water for future
annexation opportunities by waiving the annexation requirement for OMNI
Orthopedics!
Thank you,
Chuck Osborne
