Regional District To Push for Loan from Northern Trust for Northern Sports Centre

Tuesday, November 30, 1999 12:00 AM

The Regional District of Fraser Fort George has voted in favour of going to the Northern Development Initiatives Trust for a $1 million dollar loan ( interest free) and a $400 thousand dollar grant as a contribution to the construction of the Northern Sports Centre.

Director Bob Headrick wasn't keen on the idea saying "You're tappin' us!" Headrick says the taxpayers in the electoral districts should have the option to vote on borrowing this kind of money. "If I was to buy a firetruck I would have to put it to a referendum,this should be the same" says Headrick who told his fellow Directors that at the end of the day "When it comes to doing things in our communities there'snothing left."

Director Don Zurowski says he recognizes this is a lot of money, however, he sees it as an investment in the educational economy of the region, and an opportunity to fill the sport facility gap that has plagued UNBC.

Valemount Director Jeannette Townsend suggested a breakdown on each area's financial responsibility for repayment of the loaned one million might make it more attractive. Based on the most recent assessments, here are the amounts each area would have to repay annually starting in 2008:

Prince George     $160,200.
Mackenzie               $16,200
McBride                    $ 1,148.
Valemount               $ 2,393
Electoral "A"             $ 7,008
Electoral "C"             $7,716
Electoral "D"           $10,631
Electoral "E"             $4,138
Electoral "F"             $4,723
Electoral "G"            $23,937
Electoral "H"            $11,686

Chairman Kinsley noted "Yes it will be a recruitment tool for the University, but it is important that it will be open to the public."

Director Bob Headrick was the only one to oppose the move, saying "It's wrong, but this is a weighted vote and it doesn't matter a tinker's damn how I vote, it's just wrong!"

The plan to be presented to the Northern Development Initiatives Trust will outline a repayment of the loan over four years starting in 2008.
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Posted on Tuesday, November 30, 1999 12:00 AM in News by Elaine Macdonald

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Comments

Posted by: Gofaster on January 19 2006 4:16 PM

Gee, just what we need another sports facility that only a very few SPECIAL people can use and rest of us can pay taxes on....way to go city of PG...remind me why I voted for any of you now????

Posted by: fedup on January 19 2006 4:55 PM

Should we get are debt under control before we take on more last I heard we already owe more than we can afford.

Posted by: Gofaster on January 19 2006 7:25 PM

Mr Headrick I give you credit, you are the only one with anything on the ball in my estimation.

Posted by: Palopu on January 19 2006 8:31 PM

Its interesting that the Mayor would say that the sports facility would be open to the public, but who would use it. The Civic Centre is open to the Public and is hardly ever used. Very little public use is allowed at any of these Centres without a user fee attached. This of course is another **Red Herring**. Another ploy is to show the yearly payment at $160,200.00 however this still converts into $640,000.00 over 4 years which is in excess of 1/2 Million dollars. Taxpayers will have to pay this amount, along with an additional tax increase for the upcoming Regional District Budget if it goes through. As I have said on numerous occasions these people are completely out of control when it comes to spending. I suggest to Bob Headrick that there must be some way to force this issue to a referendum. Does anyone know????

Posted by: acrider54 on January 20 2006 7:55 AM

More tax increases on top of us taxed out tax payers

Posted by: YamaDooPolCat on January 20 2006 12:31 PM

That gosh darm tax man.