On Feb. 7, next to the article about the city spending $36M at the Family Leisure Centre, there was an article that spoke of proposed property tax increases in the area of 15 per cent, over the next three years. For me, that will amount to an increase of approximately $360Êannually.
There is no doubt that some of these things are needed, but some of the spending is just a waste of taxpayer dollars. One such example is the upgrade to the Methanex Bowl. The fieldhouse to be built is long overdue. Players must have a place to change. The laying down of artificial turf, on the other hand, is an absolute waste of money.
The survey I just completed revealed Fort McMurray, Red Deer and Lethbridge do not provide any artificial turf fields. Calgary provides three at Shouldice Park and all of them are available at various hourly rental rates. Edmonton has a few artificial turf fields and most are also available on a rental basis. Eighteen NFL teams currently play on natural turf.
If the field at the Methanex Bowl is a little uneven then have a contractor roll it in the spring. What about the little kids that play on our many natural turf soccer fields without all of the protective equipment football players wear? Is their safety not important? Should we take things to the extreme and cover all playing fields in the city with artificial turf?
Once again city officials are spending money they don't have. They are once again saying they can apply for funds from other levels of government to off-set two-thirds of the cost. Where have you heard that before?
We sure know we can not count on LaVar Payne for any help.
Carl Lunge
Medicine Hat