I am not trying to sound like an uncaring person, but I am having a hard time understanding when the city started to spend hard-earned tax dollars addressing what Mother Nature is doing to personal property in a flood plain along a river.
From what I understand the properties along the Nechako and Fraser Rivers in Prince George are part of a flood plain and when this land was sold, it was sold at a reduced rate compared to other properties in Prince George. So in turn the property owners pay less taxes because of property values and yet expect more services by the city. So why should we who elect to live where there are no concerns of river flooding and pay higher taxes have to see our tax dollars being used this way?
If city council feels they need to use tax dollars this way then I guess they will be prepared to use tax dollars to fix retainer walls that are falling down because of more ground water caused by the mountain pine beetle infestation that is causing side hills to shift affecting retainer walls and even house foundations.
Rivers have been known to change their courses over the years as the silt fills the areas where there is little to no current and in turn where the current is strong it erodes the earth creating new course. This is why one should watch where one builds and not expect the other citizens of the city to bail them out.
Take for example the Athabasca falls by Jasper. This water runs over solid rock and over the years the river has worn a new path right through the rock in turn changing the direction of water flow.
The Niagara Falls has a one-foot per year erosion rate. So are the citizens of Niagara going to pay tax dollars to find a way to stop the erosion so the hotels don't lose their prime location?
Murray Mooney
Prince George
