Fee increases! Hundreds of people layed off in PG but raise fees! Losers!

Everyone wants, but they don't want to pay....

Simple, all the houses water should be metered. That will reduce the water consumption. Tie in the cost of making potable water plus the cost of handling the sewage to it.

Garbage, most of the garbage is being picked up by selfloading trucks, put a scale on it to determine the weight. Than it gets tied to the address, and it get billed out at a set rate. Use the power of the computer. Thus if the person don't like the process, he/she will do more recycling and or more composting! Either way, the city wins, and so does the enviroment.

We have an awful lot of technology out there, thus why not be leaders instead of followers. This will then become a user fee system. Thus the people who really needs to pinch their pennies, has a opportunity.

New technology is great, of course. But it comes at a price. Somebody would have to pay for the water meters and installation, for scales and their maintenance and periodic calibration, for new computers and programming at city hall (a golden opportunity to spend another 3 or 4 million for the latest brand new stuff!) and additional staff.

The net effect would be a huge increase in water and sewer rates and we all know that once they have gone up they will NEVER come down again. Guaranteed!

I would start by saving a lot of money by eliminating the costly fluoridation of our water supply! It must cost a bundle every year. It's a poison and it does not prevent cavities as proven by statistics from other cities which eliminated it decades ago. If people insists on using fluoride there is more than enough in the toothpaste already.

By the way, how does one do composting during the winter months, of which there are many in the north?

The increase in water rates has nothing to do with the amount of water used in this burg. It is because of the huge cost to build a new water treatment centre near Foothills and to run water up Foothills to service that area, and the proposed new golf course, and the attendent houses that will be built in that area. In addition they are presently putting in water mains along Tyner Blvd, and God knows where else. This City is spread out all over the Country side and this costs us huge dollars. The actual water usage is a red herring, and has nothing to do with the cost.

As far as the Garbage goes, the increase in costs is a direct result of the high cost of labour, and all the people we have working at City Hall. There are more high paid bodys stumbling around City Hall than any other City of this size in Canada. We need to get rid of this deadwood. A 10% across the board reduction in staff would be a good start. A huge reduction in the size of the City fleet would also make a difference.

When the City went to these self loading trucks I doubt if they factured in the fact that these trucks are much smaller, and therefore require more trips to the land fill, and therefore more costs.

Trying to make excuses for the Citys incompetance only encourages them to continue along the same vein. They have to become more fiscally responsibile. That all there is to it.

The city raised its taxes 3.8% then the Regional District raised theirs almost 4% and now they want another 15% for water and garbage. OMG! Prince George has the highest tax rates other than Vancouver. They raised their taxes more than Vancouver this year. Our federal and provincial governments tried to help us out due to the financial situation in Canada right now and our Idiot city is taken all of that and then some from us. It is out of control people and when the hell are you going to brain up and see it. Our city council is spending money like it is growing on all the bug killed trees. 25% of the population here is unemployed and the rest of us is being gouged. Be good little puppets now and say nothing. I thank God every day that I have a well and my own septic system. At least the city can not gouge me with that one. Our road is a mess and they just put new paint lines on it so that is my clue that they are not planning on fixing it this year once again. Our road got plowed 3 times last winter...and you all know how often and how much it snowed. It is rediculous. It is like the olympic money grabs the only difference is that it is for an arts centre, police station and 11klm long PAVED trail. Yes we need a new police station but it DOES NOT NEED AN EXPENSIVE ATRIUM!! The city acts like we are all stupid.

I agree with you 100% CaringSoul.

We have a huge City beauacracy being run by Mental Midgets. There is no end to thier lack of concern for taxpayers money.

We are presently putting in a Roundabout at the North end of the new Cameron St., bridge. The cost of this Roundabout will come out of the road budget. Heaven forbid that it should be charged to the cost of the bridge, which is already about 4/5 million over budget.

When this bridge fiasco is complete, we will have spent approx $15 Million dollars to move the same amount of traffic that we moved with the old bridge, which could have been repaired for a mere $750,000.00.

That is not the worst part. It would have cost the City even more if they had put in a light system, therefore to save a few bucks and some embarresment they went for the Roundabout, however with it comes some big problems.


There is a huge number of trucks that go to and from the Pulp Mills, Husky Oil, FMC Corp. Chemtrade, etc; on the Pulp Mill Road. A large number of these truck are Super B Train loads of chips, and empty chip trucks. In additon there is a huge number of 53ft vans loading and unloading at these industries. These 53ft Vans, and Btrains are going to have problems, circumnavigating this roundabout

In additon you will have a large number of Super B Train Tanker trucks loaded with Diesel, and Gasoline, , plus loaded trucks of Hydrogen Peroxide to and from FMC Corp., and Husky Oil.

This area probably has the highest number of loaded and empty trucks, and dangerous goods, in all of North Central British Columbia, and our City in all its wisdom has put in a hard to navigate Roundabout, thus creating the possibility of a Dangerous Goods occurance, right along a pristine River, and Mcmillan Creek.

All of this to save a few bucks, and some face.

When winter comes we will see how well this Roundabout works. At best it will slow traffic to a crawl. It will certainly not speed it up, which was the original intention of building the bridge.

This city needs to be WAY MORE in terms of refuse sorting/handling/recycling.

There needs to be many more, much more convenient recycling options available.

You should not have to drive from College Heights to Foothills to recycle certain things.

Wish I could opt out of garbage pick up. Charter infringement? Freedom of Association? I will get rid of my own garbage. Betcha it won't wash with the folks at City hall.