Veteran's Plaza Project Gets Green Light

Monday, March 16, 2009 09:13 PM

Prince George, B.C.- The Veteran’s Plaza, Spirit Square project will go ahead.

The project, pegged at close to a million dollars, was put on hold when it was discovered the project was short about $150 thousand dollars.

Members of the Legion, Branch 43, attended the Capital spending meeting and called on Council to find a way to make it happen.

The Province had already made a commitment to the previous council to provide up to $500 thousand dollars for the project. The design work has been completed (at a cost of $78,000) but the project would have to be complete by this fall.

City Financial Staff have revisited the Capital Expenditure Reserve as part of the year end process. Capital projects that have been completed under budget and interest earnings in the reserve have resulted in a uncommitted balance of $239,700. Staff recommended $150,000 of that amount be used for the Veteran’s Plaza project.

Councilor Cameron Stolz says he certainly supports the upgrading of the cenotaph, but the rest of the Spirit Square isn't something he agrees with. "Even now I have problems with the amount of money we are spending to redevelop the park in front of City Hall, unfortunately the time frame to be able to readdress this and reduce the project in size or scape, has now escaped us and we are now up against a time line to submit and receive matching funds from the Province."

Stolz added that in the future, the reasons for proceeding with a project should change "Just because something's on sale, because we're getting matching funds from another level of government, it needs to justify itself on its own merits."

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Posted on Monday, March 16, 2009 09:13 PM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: camoose on March 16 2009 10:22 PM

Wonderful. One would think that Kingsley and the gang still reside at city hall.

Posted by: Shellshadow on March 17 2009 11:48 AM

Does not matter what levels of government gives money in the end it come from the TAX PAYERS POCKETS! I just can not believe how much money this council wants to spend on things THAT SHOULD WAIT. At the very least until this financial situation around the world stops being a huge issue. Or maybe until the thousands of people losing their jobs get support. I find it ridiculous to be making things pretty on the tax payers dime when if given the choice the tax payers would GLADLY give it to those in need. I am sure that even the veterans would agree at this point.
Thank you so much to all the Veteran's who have fought for our freedom.

Posted by: acrider54 on March 17 2009 2:47 PM

I think it's a nice idea and appreciate the veterans but how about fixing the roads first!