Disclaimer: The following is an opinion from things I have
gathered through my experience with Minerva Park council. By all means, I
encourage anyone reading this to gather their own experiences with Minerva
Park. Give it a go. Try to remain unbiased, for the bias gathered here could
put you on the list, or ruin your chances of a potentially harmless or maybe
even pleasant encounter with Minerva Park affiliates. They don’t bite, that I
know of. This is just a personal rendition of what I’ve learned and taken from
my very educational experience in being involved in small-town politics and
running for council. And why I’m not doing so anymore.
You can’t succeed in a game when all the cards are on the
other side of the table. I spent over 15 months of my life dedicated to the
game Minerva Park politics is playing, and I never held any cards, no matter
how many times I was told to “go fish”. I followed the monthly meetings, work
sessions, special meetings, and lawsuits as much as I could for as long as I
could stand it. Then, I realized the amount of negativity that was brought into
my life by my experiences with Minerva Park politics.
In my experience it doesn’t matter what you try to say to Minerva
Park Council (and Mayor) or how much you try to work collectively with them, if
they have decided you’re not “one of them” or have views that differ too much
from their own, you will not be heard. Legislation may even be created to limit
your attempts at being heard.
If you try to point out the inconsistencies in their
practices, the hidden routes that legislation is passed in, or the blatant lies
or instances where members “do not recall” something that was recorded on
minutes that are now missing, you are ostracized; either by way of zoning
enforcement that is not consistently applied throughout the village or
inconsistencies in the enforcements of other ordinances by village officials.
Months ago, I decided to spend what little free time I have with things that bring positivity to my life. Among my involvement with council, I was going to school full time, being a full time, young mother, and beginning my career. It was time to let the games of council remain in council, not in my limited hours and using my limited energy left at the end of the day. I was surely not going to succeed, and it took me over 15 months to decide that perhaps Minerva Park council is not something I should be fighting for justice and truthfulness in. Especially at 21 years old.
I am at the beginning of my career, I have a young family to take care of, and in all honesty, I do not intend to raise that family in Minerva Park. It was a great place to grow up when I was doing so, before I knew about the political gamesmanship taking place in the same building where I saw Santa and dressed in costume for the Halloween candy party.
Now, I realize the raised costs Minerva Park residents are subject to for these “services” (those are sponsored by the MPCA, theoretically a separate entity from what our taxes go towards). I realize that for the $4,000+ per year in taxes, I am better suited in the actual City of Westerville.
These taxes in Westerville go towards the school system (something found alike in Minerva Park, piggybacking on the Westerville system), the Westerville Parks and Recreation Department, the numerous fire departments, an engineering department, and the list goes on. Westerville’s tax rate is roughly 15.8% of the annual property taxes paid, while Minerva Park’s rate is about 18.3%. That’s how we can afford the cans of spray paint to mark the potholes our engineering department has slated to fix. Oh wait….
This is getting away from the facts, perhaps because of the strong feelings I have. Most people who get involved with Minerva Park politics find themselves passionately devoted; regardless of what “side” they’re fighting for. I have removed myself from the MP scene because of the hopelessness I felt about being involved.
Entering those meetings and trying to speak your concerns about happenings is like slamming your hand in the car door. Every. Single. Month. Twice a month. I have heard this said many times. Now I understand why it is said. Depressingly enough, this was originally a first-impression from another MP resident who went to a council meeting.
Although, if you’re in the mood for some drama, and don’t have a lot invested in your freedoms and tax money, it’s better than prime-time TV on Monday nights. Just be prepared to answer the greeting you’ll receive: “And you are…??”
I wish everyone the best, really. Minerva Park is a nice neighborhood. There is a lot to offer. The politics, however, is bass-ackwards and run like a Kangaroo Court from my experience. Look at the lawsuit record for MP. Look at the facts (if you can find them...and consider the source. Even this one.). Maybe that's how "all" small town governments are, but it doesn't have to be that way, and the fact that it is in a village of 1,200 is despicable, and leads more than just myself to wonder if we are the next "New Rome". I hope not.
If you're angered by this, go write your own blog, censor your own "forum", or run for council. If you run, they'll probably pick you, you know, even if you don't get elected. And see the disclaimer. Anyone reading this is advised that these are personal opinions from first-hand experiences. I encourage all to have their own first-hand experiences. Lord knows we need more new faces in the community building; go ahead and try to see for yourself whose actions you agree with.
Back to my regularly scheduled life.
