The patient Pigs of Podunk

The mayor seemingly overcome with the spirit of Chinese New Year constructed his latest “Message from the Mayor” in a porcine frame of mind. (see transcript below)

The Mayor outlined some of the achievements of the current administration, as well as some of its frustrations. He commended the residents of the city for our patience in the past and apparently having consulted some Chinese horoscopes, suggested that 2007 is destined to be our year.

Now I’m not sure how the populace will take to being compared to pigs, although cynics might point out that if anyone would be familiar with the concept of pork and it’s by product, it would most decidedly be a politician.

In the end however, judging by his listing of those projects that are a little off target in the timing department, he might have subtitled the effort “a year late and more than a few dollars short.”

The mayor’s latest missive accompanied the explanation of the new tax collection system. With the New Year (North American or Chinese) has come a change in collection times, which sees the patient pigs of Rupert paying their utility taxes three months earlier than in previous years, giving the city an extra three months of revenue to add to their coffers. Presumably in order to allow the City to continue to do everything in their power, to put a great deal of effort, into providing strong support, to move things forward in the Podunkian barnyard.

Patient pigs that we are; we’ll wait to see what the next year brings in completed porcine projects and if indeed 2007 will finally be; “our year”.

CITY OF PRINCE RUPERT
FEBRUARY 2007
City Update
MESSAGE FROM THE MAYOR

It is said that patience is a virtue. If that’s true then Prince Rupert is getting pretty virtuous.

In addition to working so hard and for so long at re-building our economy, and indeed our community, we’ve also been doing a great deal of waiting.

Four years ago, the City committed to do everything in its power to bring about a replacement for Acropolis Manor. In spite of every effort by the City, including donating land and waiving building fees, Northern Health has experienced many delays. However, at long last it looks like the project is finally getting underway with site preparation in full swing.

The City also put a great deal of effort into the development of the Treasure Cove gaming centre which was to have opened almost a year ago. Again, we did everything within our power to move the project forward but there were other delays including an expansion of the original project. Today, the progress is evident as the building begins to take shape. It is expected that the facility will be operating before the summer.

Likewise, the shopping centre proposed by Royop received strong support from Council and the Mayor’s office. The City has exceeded every commitment as far as timing of approvals. Once again, changes to the scope of the project resulted in delays. It now appears that the expanded project will begin site preparation sometime this summer.

Finally, the City worked creatively and aggressively with SunWave to secure the earliest possible restart of pulping operations at Watson Island. Clearly the lack of progress by SunWave has been disappointing to everyone. Council continues to push for activity on this site.

Without a doubt, the Port of Prince Rupert continues to be our most exciting development activity taking place in the City. The Port expansion is on time, on budget, and looking to exceed expectations as soon as it opens… but again, it’s involved a great deal of waiting.

In 2006 the City was able to tackle some major capital projects and completed:

Cow Bay Bridge Repair

2nd Avenue Bridge major repair

Millennium Walkway

Completion of Fulton Street stairs

Running track renewal (in conjunction with the School District)

Much of the world is just now celebrating the arrival of a New Year – the year of the pig. According to one web site, this is a year where “any recent setbacks or obstacles can be overcome so look forward to a year in which to really shine, either personally or professionally.”

In Prince Rupert to date we’ve been very patient pigs. 2007 looks like it will finally be our year.

Herb Pond,
Mayor