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City of Alma E-Newsletter
April 2010 |
 Census 2010
By now you should have received your Census form and hopefully have completed it and mailed it back. Please check with your family, neighbors and friends to be sure everyone completes their census.
Remember....we can't move forward until you mail it back!
Participating in the 2010 Census:
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Assists planning for local hospitals and health care programs;
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Forecasts future needs of road improvements, highways and public transportation;
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Assists local non-profit organizations and determines grant eligibility;
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Provides funding for local parks and recreation projects;
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Stimulates the local economy by attracting new businesses and initiating job training programs;
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Directs funding for services to support our elderly;
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Affects our representation in Congress and in the state legislature;
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Enhances the services of our local fire and police departments;
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Benefits our local schools and universities;
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Fulfills your civic duty!
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 April Events:
Friday Night at the Movies
Want to spend your Friday nights this month with Jimmy Stewart? Come join us at the Library for a great line up of movies including:
4/9 - Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
4/16 - Harvey
4/23 - Rear Window
4/30 - Anatomy of a Murder
The movie starts at 7:00 p.m. in the Alma Public Library, with free admission. Snacks are available for a nominal fee. Stop in and spend a Friday evening at the cinema with a group of "Friends".
Sponsored by "The Friends of the Alma Public Library"
Celebrate "National Library Week"
 April 12 - 17, 2010
Come to the Alma Public Library and join us in celebrating National Library week. The Library staff has a number of things planned, including:
- Check out DVD's for FREE all week
- Library Week drawing on April 19
Sign up now for the drawing on the 19th, which offers the following prizes:
- Two "gently used" adult bicycles, and
- Two "gently used" children's bicycles
Also, give us your best guess on the number of Starbursts and Milk Maids in the candy jar and see if you can win the candy! The top five guessers split the entire jar. If you need to contact the Alma Public Library, you can call 463-3966.
"Spring Fling"
Be there or be square for "Spring Fling" in downtown Alma on Saturday, April 17, 2010. The fun will begin with the Tartan Pet Parade at 1:00 p.m. between Alma True Value Hardware and the Gratiot Area Chamber of Commerce. Dress your pet and bring them downtown to show them off. Awards and prizes will be given out to the best dressed pets, with a special award given to the best Tartan dressed pet. Registration begins at 12:30. Thanks to Redbird Pet Food Center for sponsoring this event.
 After the Pet Parade, join us at Stucci's Ice Cream & Yogurt for the Shortbread Bakeoff judging at 2:00 p.m. Bring a sample of your traditional and/or nontraditional shortbread baked goods. There will be prizes for the top tasting shortbreads. Registration for this event begins at 1:30 p.m. at the Main Cafe.
 Highland dancing will round out the afternoon from 2:30 to 3:00 p.m. at Mid-Michigan Highland Dance Academy at 105 E. Superior St. Learn about traditional Scottish dance when the MMHDA students demonstrate Highland dances.
 Music starts at noon and continues throughout the afternoon. Traditional Scottish violins, blues and blue grass join the "Harpin' & Pickin' & Strummin' Saturdays". Open music for acoustic players - harmonica, banjo, guitar and whatever else comes along, with something for everyone from beginners to experienced players. Join them at ABC Music, 325 N. State Street.
Contact Aeric Ripley at 463-8336 or Rodys Dancer at 620-4180 for more information or registration forms.
"Spring Fling" Golf Outing
 The Alma Action Association 3rd Annual Spring Fling Golf Outing will be on Saturday, May 1, 2010 at Pine River Country Club.
This will be a four person, nine hole scramble. Registration begins at noon with a shot gun start at 1:00 p.m. Cost is $40 per person and includes golf, lunch and door prizes. Raffles, betting hole and cash prizes will also highlight the day.
AAA needs more than just golfers, they need hole sponsors too! If you're interested in being a sponsor, contact Aeric Ripley at 463-8336 or email at aripley@ci.alma.mi.us. All proceeds from the outing will assist in purchasing new planters and flowers for the downtown and support the annual Christmas celebration and Christmas lights. Contact Aeric for your registration form.
Highland Festival - Early Bird Ticket Sales
Early bird ticket sales for the Highland Festival are available at the Festival Office (463-8979) from April 1st - 30th. Cost is $10 for each day's tickets.
Scottish Ale Tasting
Join us for the 2nd Annual Scottish Ale Tasting at the Alma Elks Lodge on Friday, April 9, 2010 from 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Try four different ales and pick your favorite one. The cost is $15 and proceeds go to the Alma Highland Festival.
 American Red Cross
Tuesday, April 6, 2010 from 1:00 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. at the Alma First Presbyterian Church. For more information, please call 463-3209. |
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The City Commission will be holding a special meeting at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 6, 2010 for the purpose of interviewing and selecting a candidate to fill the vacant City Commission seat. There are seven candidates who have submitted letters of interest for the open seat. They are: Jeff Cook, David Kitzmiller, Robert Dunn, William Watson, Travis Polash, Scott Moes and Nicholas Piccolo. During the meeting, the candidates will be given an opportunity to address the Commission and audience. Commissioners will then ask questions of the candidates and discuss their visions for the City of Alma.
The City of Alma will present the FY2011 Annual Budget & Capital Improvement Program to the City Commission and citizens at their regular Commission meeting at 6:00 p.m. on April 13, 2010. To see what's in store for next year, you may review the Budget and CIP at www.ci.alma.mi.us after April 9, 2010.
All interested people are invited and encouraged to attend.
Complete copies of City Commission minutes are available on the City's website. |
Household Hazardous Waste Program
The City of Alma in conjunction with the City of St. Louis, conducts a Household Hazardous Waste Program. Residents may drop off unwanted items such as batteries, paints, pesticides/herbicides and cleaning liquids. New to the program this year will be the collection of fluorescent bulbs (tubes only). This year's collection dates are:
May 4: 8:00 am - 4:30 p.m.
May 5: 8:00 am - 7:30 p.m.
May 6: 8:00 am - 4:30 p.m.
Collection will take place at the Public Works Garage, 800 Washington Ave. Appointments are required and can be made by calling 463-8339.
Fluorescent Bulb Collection for
Alma & St. Louis Businesses
The cities of Alma and St. Louis will now be providing an annual service for local businesses that coincides with our Household Hazardous Waste Program. This service will allow businesses a way to properly dispose of hazardous fluorescent bulbs (tubes only) at a minimal cost. Compact bulbs will not be accepted.
The program will be held on Monday, May 3, 2010 from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Public Works Garage, 800 Washington Ave. Appointments are required and can be made by calling 463-8339. The cost will be:
Tubes four feet or less - $1.00 per bulb
Tubes four to eight feet - $2.00 per bulb
Fluorescent bulbs contain toxic chemicals that can be a threat to people and the environment if improperly discarded. Let's all do our part. Please call to set up an appointment today. |
America's Community Information Exchange
 | Alma Police Department Introduces Nixle
The Alma Police Department has begun utilizing a new service to access important, valuable community information when you need it, using the latest technology.
The APD will create and publish messages through the Nixle Community Information Service. Nixle will then deliver this information to you instantly by cell phone text message and/or email. Notifications can also be accessed online at Nixle's website at Nixle.com.
Example messages may include road closures, emergency information, Alma Police Athletic League news as well as other relevant safety and community event information.
The service is reliable and free to use. There is NO spam and no hidden cost; you receive messages as part of a cell phone text messaging plan. YOU decide what information you want and whether you want it sent to your cell phone, email, or just simply over the web.
Please register now at Nixle.com. There you can also access their FAQ's. New communication forms continue to evolve and we believe this service will allow us to keep you informed of happenings in Alma in the most convenient, reliable way possible. If you need additional information, please contact Lieutenant Matt Schooley at 463-8317. |
Do Have Sewer Problems?
Here are some frequently asked questions and answers.
Where is my sewer line?
The City of Alma does not keep records of sewer laterals connected to the  sewer main. We consider the lateral to be the property of the home owner. We can provide a rough idea where the main is, as it is typically in the center of the street. The main will be located on any Miss Dig calls as well.
What/where does my responsibility start and what is the City's responsibility?
The City is only responsible for the sewer main line. The sewer lateral belongs to the home owner and is 100% their responsibility to maintain and repair, even inches from the main line.
What if I believe the City's main is at fault?
Nearly all obstructions occur within a service lead. Therefore, the City has enacted a "sanitary sewer policy" whereby the home owner is encouraged to have a plumber check their sewer system first. The City can investigate and flush the main but if no problem is found, then the home owner will be invoiced for the cost. If your plumber finds fault in the City's main, then the City will reimburse for reasonable and customary plumbing bills.
What if repair is needed?
If your sewer has to be dug up to be repaired, the City requires a permit to be obtained to dig within the right-of-way, which is the City owned property along the roadway. This permit will have rules with it and must be obtained two business days before any work is done. The cost will vary depending on the extent of the work involved. A contractor is required to obtainl this permit. Most contractors in the area are familiar with our rules and fees.
If you have additional questions, please feel free to call Dave Ringle or Joel Brookens at 463-8346. |
 Garage Sale Sign &
Yard Sale Regulations
It's that time of year again! The City of Alma encourages residents to conduct garage sales, but urges them to follow the regulations concerning garage sale signs. Follow this link to be "in the know" on the do's and don'ts of garage sale signs.
Yard sales are also regulated by ordinance. Follow the link for all the information. |
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City of Alma Adopts Emergency Operations Plan
City staff, under the guidance of Lieutenant Matt Schooley, have been working diligently over the past 18 months to develop an Emergency Operations Plan.
The EOP will provide staff with direction and guidelines on what to do the in the event of an emergency. The plan lays out all the basic information for staff as well as contact information and standardized forms. The plan is available by following this link. |
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Hello...Goobye!
If you come to City Hall this month, you'll have the opportunity to say "hello" to our new Cashier, Heather Heitsch, and "good-bye" to our current Cashier, Carol Lemcool.
Carol will be retiring at the end of the month after 19 years of service. Carol and her husband Mike plan to make the most of their new found freedom by hitting the road and heading west. We want to thank Carol for her hard work, dedication and great sense of humor and wish her lot's of luck and enjoyment for the future. We're sure going to miss her. 
Heather Heitsch joins the City of Alma family as the new Cashier. Heather grew up in McBride and graduated from Montabella High School. In her spare time, Heather is pursuing her Bachelor of Science degree in Public Adminstration from CMU. Heather, husband Josh and sons Alexander and Payton live in Alma.
If you have the opportunity, please stop in and say goodbye to Carol and welcome Heather. | |
Dispose of your prescription drugs safely. They are NOT accepted as part of the Household Hazardous Waste Program.
 Forward Us to Your Friends!
If you know of someone who may be interested in receiving our e-newsletters, please forward this copy to them or tell them about us. Anyone interested can join our mailing list by following this link. | |
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City of Alma offices/services closings:
Good Friday:
4/02/10
Memorial Day:
5/31/10
July 4th:
7/5/10
Labor Day:
9/6/10
Thanksgiving:
11/25/10
11/26/10
Christmas:
12/23/10
12/24/10 |
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City of Alma Officials:
Mayor
Vice-Mayor
Commissioner
Commissioner
Commissioner
City Manager
Asst. City Manager/ DDA Director
Public Safety Director
Public Services Director
City Clerk
City Assessor
Assistant
Building/Zoning/Code Enforcement Director
Finance Director
Transportation Services Director
Library Director
Controller |
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City of Alma Telephone Numbers:
City Manager
463-8336
City Clerk
463-8336
City Assessor
463-8356
City Treasurer
463-8346
City Engineer
463-8346
Building/Zoning
463-8356
Downtown Development Authority
463-8336
Public Safety
463-8317
Fire (business)
463-8359
Public Services
463-8346
Municipal Garage
463-8339
Cemetery
463-8901
Forestry
463-8901
Library
463-3966
DART
463-6016
Water
463-8349
Wastewater
463-6506
Public Access
463-5883
Housing Commission
463-4200
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