PARKS: Pain in the pocket

Pocket parks may be appropriately named since it removes valuable commercial property from the tax base and adds the cost of maintaining and providing equipment from the taxpayers’ pockets.

It will join the other properties that now sit on the most valuable property in Coeur d’Alene, like the city offices and the public library. Millions of revenue have been lost annually by eliminating projects like 10-story, million dollar condominiums from this spectacular area.

Now we need to add fire stations. But do we really need arched masonry structures when a steel building would serve as well? Perhaps we would be better served by leaving that East Sherman Avenue property to generate taxes rather than remove it from the taxing base.

Maybe time to eliminate expenses rather than add maintenance and insurance costs to residents.

BILL TURNER

Coeur d’Alene