City of Alma E-Newsletter
September 2010 |
Upcoming Events
School Starts September 7, 2010
Please Watch for Children & Drive Carefully
Mark your calendars for Saturday, September 11, 2010 for the 9th Annual Lucky MacDuck Community Day. The activities will be held south of the Alma Public Library at Highland Park. Lucky MacDuck is a day of fun, games and activities for the young and young at heart! The "Duckling Activities" will include games and entertainment such as pony rides, inflatables, face painting and play/craft activities with the purchase of a $5.00 wrist band. The Creative Arts Guild of Mid-Michigan will host an exhibit of local artists, with many of the pieces available for purchase.
Don't miss your opportunity to have your picture taken as a "Highland Dance Duck". The entertainment tent will provide constant music and dancing by area performers starting at noon. Grilled hot dogs, hamburgs, and beverages will be available for purchase. A 50-50 raffle will be held at 2:50.
As always, the day's activities conclude with the exciting rubber duck race down the Pine River at 3:00. Cash prizes of $1,000, $500 & $250 will be awarded for the three top finishers. Additional prizes of goods and services donated by local merchants and businesses will be awarded to a large number of the subsequent finishing ducks. Ducks are available for purchase for $5 each; "Quack Packs" (6 ducks) for $25; "Bakers Dozen" (13 ducks) for $50; or a "Flock" (30 ducks) for $120. For more information and to purchase your ducks, stop in at ABC Music, 325 N. State Street or call 989-285-3171.
Gratiot County United Way Road Rally
The 13th Annual Gratiot County United Way Road Rally will take place on Thursday, September 16, 2010. This is a fun rally, with no special equipment required. Just follow the instructions and set your clock! The rally will start and finish at the Alma Elks Lodge at 610 W. Warwick Drive, Alma. The registration fee is $35 for the driver and navigator and $15 for each additional person (limit 6 participants per vehicle). A "Victory Lap" ticket will be provided to each participant. Only 50 entries are accepted prior to the event.
Participants should plan to be at the Elks by 4:00 p.m. to sign in. The driver's meeting will be held at 4:30 p.m. with the flag dropping for the road rally at 5:00 p.m.
If you are unable to participate in the road rally, you are invited to join the Victory Lap Celebration after the rally with food music, rally awards and fun with friends.
Entry forms are available at the United Way office at 525 N. State Street. Phone 463-6245 for more information.
Upcoming Events at Alma College
September 7 through October14 - The Flora Kirsch Beck Gallery at Alma College hosts the Annual Juried Student Art Show from Tuesday, Sept. 7 through Thursday, October 14. Admission is free and open to the public. Gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday. A gallery reception takes place from 4 to 5 p.m. Thursday, September 30.
Alma College hosts Community Appreciation Day on Saturday, September 18. Activities include a family picnic, inflatable games for the kids and a petting zoo beginning at noon near the Bahlke Field entrance, followed by the Alma College football game at 1 p.m. vs. Rockford College. The pregame activities are free and open to the public. Football game admission is $5 for adults and students and free for children 12 and under.
September 18 - The legendary iO Theatre in Chicago presents The Improvised Musical at 8 p.m. in the Remick Heritage Center at Alma College. The cast of improvisers creates all the elements of a big time Broadway musical on the spot, complete with plot, music, choreography and lyrics. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for seniors 62 and up, and free for Alma College staff, students and youth 18 and under. Seating is reserved. Call (989) 463-7304 for ticket information.
American Red Cross Community Blood Drive
 Please give the gift of life in honor of Don Pavlik, Jim Hall, Jerry Freed & Ann Hall who were and are regular blood donors in Gratiot County. Please help save a life.
Upcoming blood drives are: Tuesday, September 7: noon - 5:45 p.m.
Ithaca Community Center Tuesday, September 16: noon - 5:45 p.m.
St. Louis Church of Christ Wednesday, September 22: noon - 5:45 p.m.
ZCBJ Hall, Bannisterl
Tuesday, September 28: 11:00 a.m. - 4:45 p.m.
Stone Recreation Center, Alma College
Tuesday, September 28: 8:30 a.m. - 2:15 p.m.
Ithaca High School
For more information, please call 463-3209.
Steam Engines Returning in October
 The Steam Railroading Institute (SRI) in Owosso will again be bringing a couple of Steam Engine Train Excursions to Alma on October 16 & 23.
The SRI and the Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society will host their annual Fall Color Trip on October 16. The tour will be pulled by visiting steam locomotive Nicel Plate #765. The 765 was built in 1944 and will haul the vintage passenger train from Alma to Cadillac. The tour will depart Alma at 9:00 a.m. and arrive in Cadillac at approximately 12:30. After a 3 hour layover, the train will then return to Alma.
The Owosso to Alma to Owosso ride will take place on October 23. The Nickel Plate #765 will lead this excursion as well. Tickets for these trips may be purchased at www.mstrp.com/tickets or by calling (989)725-9464. |
Dial-A-Ride Back to School SpecialsMonthly Pass (per calendar month only) - $30/one way; $60/both ways
 Semi-annual pass - $130/one way
$250/both ways
Annual pass - $250/one way
$500/both ways
or
Ticket books $11.00 each or $10.00 with a coupon from the back page of the ticket book. Each book has a $12.00 ticket value.
St. Louis Service:
(Sale prices end September 3, 2010)
Monday, Wednesday & Friday: 9:00 a.m., noon & 3:00 p.m.
Tuesday & Thursday: 9: a.m. & 3:00 p.m.
Regular rate: $4.00 per ride
Monthly Pass (per calendar month only) - $60/one way
Semi-annual pass (September 7, 2010 - January 15, 2011) - $555
(January 16, 2011 - June 2011 - end of school year) - $555
You can come to the DART office to purchase your tickets Monday - Friday, 7:30 to 4:30 p.m. If you are unable to come during these hours, appointments are available. Just call 463-6016.
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 Taxes Due September 15th
Property owners are reminded that property taxes are due by 5:00 p.m., Tuesday, September 15, 2010. Taxes paid after September 15th will be subject to a 4% penalty. |
Gratiot County Communities Receive
Recognition from Michigan Municipal League
Recently, 23 Gratiot County communities, Gratiot County and Greater  Gratiot Development completed work on the Gratiot County Master Plan. The Gratiot Regional Excellence and Transformation (GREAT) plan lays out goals and objectives that approach placemaking, development, land use, and improving Gratiot County communities with the entire region in mind. Through collaboration and dialogue, the communities were able to craft the plan, being the first in the state to accomplish this task. Because of this accomplishment, the group was recognized by the Michigan Municipal League in a recent article in the Michigan Municipal Review.
Continued Collaboration Results in Successful
Hazard Mitigation Plan Completion
In keeping with the momentum of the Master Plan, Gratiot communities also spent the last year collaborating on the Gratiot County Hazard Mitigation Plan. Hazard mitigation is any action taken before, during, or after a disaster to permanently eliminate or reduce the long-term risk to human life and property from natural and technological hazards. It is an essential element of emergency management, along with preparedness, response, and recovery. There is a cyclical relationship between the four
phases of emergency management. A community prepares for a disaster, and then responds when it occurs. Following the response, there is a transition into the recovery process, during which mitigation measures are evaluated and adopted. This, in turn, improves the preparedness posture of the community for the next incident, and so on. When successful, mitigation will lessen the impacts to such a degree that succeeding
incidents will remain incidents and not become disasters. Having this plan ensures that all communities involved will be eligible for FEMA assistance should an emergency occur. |
 Emergency Address Signs
In an emergency, can your home be found quickly? Having a green reflective emergency address sign enables emergency personnel to find houses more quickly.
The Commission on Aging has been awarded the Senior Homebound Endowment Fund through the Gratiot Community Foundation. This grant will allow the Commission on Aging to purchase and install Emergency Address Signs to Gratiot County Seniors who are homebound and have limited income.
If your home does not have an address sign or the address sign is worn or hard to see, call Sarah McClung at the Gratiot County Commission on Aging at (989)875-5286 to find out if you qualify for a free emergency address sign.
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2010 Capital Improvement Update
The City of Alma has postponed the 2010 CIP street reconstruction project until spring/summer of 2011 due to the project bids coming in over budget. The streets that were scheduled to be reconstructed this year (Golfside Drive and Pineview Court) will instead be added to the 2011 Street Reconstruction program along with Virginia Street from Wright Avenue to the west end of the street and Ferris Street from Bridge to Francisco. The water main replacement that was scheduled for N. Court Ave and the water main abandonment on Washington Street have also been postponed until 2011.
Well 2A Update
Phase one of the Well 2A project is currently out for bid. The project includes placing a 12" well transmission main from the Water Treatment Plant on Lincoln Avenue north to Center Street, then from Center Street east to the Well House located at the intersection of Pine Avenue and Center Street. Bids are due September 7th at 3:00 p.m.
Sanitary Sewer Replacement
The sanitary sewer replacement project along the Pine River from Superior Street south to Ely Street will soon be going out for bid. The project is in its final preliminary stages. The City must yet acquire an easement for placement of the sanitary sewer before the project can go out for bid.
If you have any questions on the projects, call (989)463-8346. |
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Yard Waste Program Ends in October: The City of Alma Yard Waste Program ends on Monday, October 25, 2010. All residents with yard waste should plan to have it placed at the curb by the 25th. City crews will work through the city on the final round of yard waste pickup beginning that day.
Street Light Out? If you notice a street light out in your neighborhood or somewhere in the City, you may contact Consumers Energy through this link to report it.
Free Compost: The City of Alma has compost and wood chips available for self loading, free of charge. The material piles are located outside the gates of the Yardwaste site on Washington Street, north of the City Public Works Garage. If you have further questions, please phone 463-8346.
Did you know.....
City of Alma residents using the Prescription Discount Drug Card are saving an average of 34% on their prescriptions. The card is FREE TO ALL CITY OF ALMA residents, regardless of age, income or existing health insurance.
To discover the savings and learn more about the program, CLICK HERE to access the program online and print a card, check drug prices and locate participating pharmacies.
Residents may also pick up a card at the Alma Municipal Building or the Alma Public Library.
For more information, call toll free: 1-888-620-1749.
This is not insurance. Discounts are only available at participating pharmacies. By using this card, participants agree to pay the entire prescription cost less any applicable discount. Savings may vary by drug and pharmacy.
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City of Alma offices/services closings:
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
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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