But now we are living in Sheriville.

Maybe there was a typo in the plan. Instead of a green space on Hwy 16, they meant to make it a (Shari) Green space?

…times change Ben…but not always for the better. If we’re going to keep Pine Valley it needs to be able to generate funds for the city.

I think the position of mayor and councillor should be contracted out on a yearly contractual basis. That way when they continually screw up we can just simply discontinue thier contract after one year.

“The lure of trying to work your way out of your debt crisis by selling off the cows on the family farm and then wondering why you have no money is about akin to what the city has been toying with.”

To further your analogy, are the cows losing money for the farm or making money for the farm? If the cows are losing money, the farm can’t afford to keep them. The farmer’s credit card is maxed out.

Sweetheart relationships like the City has with the PG Golf and Curling Club have to end. Taxpayers cannot afford to conintue to subside them. Yes, I realize that there are other facilities that the City (txpayers) subsidize, but we have to take a long hard look at those as well.

We have been sold on the idea too long that we can maintain all of these facilities, maintain infrastructure, plow streets, and fill potholes, and keep tax rates low. Well, that chicken has come home to roost. Time to wake up to reality.

It doesnt really matter what they sell/subsidize/etc if Council keeps spending money the way they do.

Does the sale of the PG Golf and Curling Club land mean M.PG will be standing in front of a car dealership now?

So in 2010 they decided to keep Pine Valley. They spent a ton of money removing the dead pine put up screena and planted many new trees and now we decide to sell the property. so whts the plan or is ther one.

why dont they sell off all the property that sits vacant in the downtown area? It is in the comercial sector of town where commerce takes placee. So we close Pine Valley and who will buy the property?
There is vacont land in the area thats been empty for years. they will probably seel it to Commonwealth to make a few bucks.
Cheers

@ JohnnyBelt – you comment above about “sweetheart relationships…” hits the nail squarely on the head.

It is time to deal with the core services of the city and let the other stuff go. Golf courses, art centres, hockey rinks, etc. may add to the lifestyle of SOME citizens but they are not NECESSARY!

What is necessary is good infrastructure. Families facing budget shorfalls have to prioritized such things as groceries, rent/mortgage, clothing, etc. before they spend money on sports, entertainment and so on.

For the city to choose anything else just shows how far out of touch our politicians are with the real world.

Kind of hard to blame a venue for not balancing its budget when you sell off its major cash cow (driving range) and expect it to make just as much as they years previous.

“It is time to deal with the core services of the city and let the other stuff go. Golf courses, art centres, hockey rinks, etc. may add to the lifestyle of SOME citizens but they are not NECESSARY”

I would argue that those things in the latter half of your paragraph are indeed necessary for a city. The scenario your are describing is more fit for an outpost. Perhaps that’s what you would prefer Prince George to be?

NMG – you want it? Then you pay for it. Don’t expect me to pay for your fun and games.
Golf is necessary? You sure played your hand with your comment.

In what universe is the model you propose actually found?

Slinky makes a good point. Even with the sale of the driving range I beleive that Pine Valley still makes enough money to cover thier operating costs. Which is more than can be said for the PGG&CC, other other City owned sporting facilities.

NMG: “I would argue that those things in the latter half of your paragraph are indeed necessary for a city. The scenario your are describing is more fit for an outpost. Perhaps that’s what you would prefer Prince George to be? “

That’s a pretty easy statement to make considering you haven’t lived here for years. Years of financial mismanagement and poor leadership are driving us into the ground.

The PGCCC is just the tip of the iceberg in terms of bad decisions the city has made. It would be nice to keep everything, but we cannot continue to run up the credit card to do so.

“That’s a pretty easy statement to make considering you haven’t lived here for years”

It’s actually an easy statement to make because it’s common sense for anyone who has visited most any city on planet earth and compared those cities to places that couldn’t be described as such.

Oh and while I’ve been away from PG for about a year and a half, my family has roots there going back to the very early 1900’s. Consider me a little sentimental about the place. I’m guessing that trumps the time you’ve been associated with PG?

The issue is not about who has been in PG the longest (I’ve been here about 30 years for what it’s worth), it is about managing the City in a sustainable way which does not drive us further into debt, and making some tough choices along the way.

The last three mayors (and councils) have been unable or unwilling to do what it takes.

“The last three mayors (and councils) have been unable or unwilling to do what it takes”

So “doing what it takes” means turning the CITY of Prince George into the type of place that is not reflective of a City? That’s some logic you have going on there JohnnyBelt . . .

So you advocate further mismangement, continuing to run up the City debt and maxing out the credit cards in the name of whatever vision it is you might have of what Prince George is supposed to be as a City? I’ll take my logic over yours any day, thanks.