Letter: City should fix what it has before it borrows for pipe dreams

Palm Coast Observer
Opinion

Dear Editor:

I’ve been reading recent articles in the Observer about future plans/spending. Things like a sports complex ($93 million) or additions to the parks (nature center). While I’m in favor of exercise and nature, I have a problem with borrowing money to do pipe dreams.

Presently we have a system in Palm Coast, "Pay as you go." It’s like what real people do. Most of us anyway; we live within our means. Projects that exceed $15 million must be approved by the electors of the city, as I understand it.

So, for example the parks: $15 million could surely build some nice restrooms, or improve trails, parking, signage or safety measures. As far as a sports complex, we are not Jacksonville or Orlando (thank goodness); $15 million could surely build or improve existing sports fields or build a multi-use sports park with ball fields/pickle ball courts and such.

I guess the thing about all of this that really gets me is we are a city that struggles to keep swales working and roads repaired. We have flooding in many areas when it rains hard. Standing water in residents yards and intersections. We have a canal system we seem to ignore. We have roads that are in bad need or repair (drive down Florida Park for one), and I’m sure the water system that was built for a city of 20 years ago is in need of expansion and upgrade.

Just look at all the homes and apartments that keep being built, especially to the west of 95 and out to the west of US 1. I would think that before you can bite off anymore you have to fix what you have. Or you just become another city of declining sections like many around us. I guess I’ve just seen this same movie before in other cities where I lived and it’s a shame Palm Coast is heading that way.

Don Brennan

Palm Coast