News from City of Alma

City of Alma E-Newsletter

News That's Important for You!

April 2013

City Commission Nominating Petitions

The City of Alma will have four seats open on the City Commission for the November 5, 2013 election.

Any qualified elector of the City of Alma is eligible to run for City Commission. Nominating petitions are available from the City Clerk at the Municipal Building. Anyone desiring to qualify as a candidate for the City Commission must file a nominating petition with the City Clerk signed by no less than 25 nor more than 50 registered electors of the City. Petitions must be filed by 4:00 p.m. on May 14, 2013.

In the event that nine or more candidates file petitions, a primary election will be held on August 6, 2013 to elect the eight candidates who will appear on the November 5th ballot.

Call Barb Gager at 463-8336 or email at bgager@ci.alma.mi.us for more information.

City of Alma FY2014 Annual Budget and

Capital Improvement Program

The City of Alma will present the FY2014 Annual Budget & Capital Improvement Program to the City Commission and citizens at their regular Commission meeting on April 9, 2013 at 6:00 p.m. To see what's in store for next year, you may review the Budget and CIP at www.ci.alma.mi.us after April 9th.

Budget review meetings will be held and the public is encouraged to attend.

"Spring Fling" Golf Outing golfer

The Alma Action Association 6th Annual Spring Fling Golf Outing will be on Saturday, May 4, 2013 at Pine River Country Club.

This will be a four person, eighteen hole scramble. Registration begins at 9:30 a.m. with a shot gun start at 10:00 a.m. Cost is $60 per person and includes golf and a box lunch. Raffles, betting hole and cash prizes will also highlight the day. Contact Aeric Ripley for additional information.

Carnival

The golf outing is not the only activity happening the first weekend in May. The Spring Fling Kids Carnival is scheduled for May 3rd, 4th and 5th. The Kids' Carnival will include great rides, carnival foods like elephant ears, funnel cakes, cotton candy, and carnival games to test your skills. The Carnival will be open on State Street Friday May 3rd 4:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m., Saturday May 4th 10:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m., and Sunday May 5th 11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Come Downtown Alma and enjoy a great day with the kids!

Keep Alma Beautiful Cleanup Day

Make your calendars for the 3rd Annual Keep Alma Beautiful Cleanup Day on Saturday, April 27th starting at 9 am. Bring your shovels, wheelbarrows, rakes and gloves and come help us get downtown ready for spring. This year the KAB Committee is focusing on a general cleanup of the downtown and the planting area on the east side of the Alma Public Library.

KAB Flower Planting Day

On Saturday, May 18th the KAB Committee welcomes volunteers to the fourth annual Alma in Bloom flower planting downtown. The KAB Committee will have a total of 37 pots in the downtown area. Volunteers are asked to meet at 10 am in front of the Chamber of Commerce Office. Bring your gardening tools and friends.

The Keep Alma Beautiful is recruiting volunteers to help maintain and water the flower pots throughout the summer and fall. Please consider gathering a group of friends, co-workers or anyone who wants to contribute to this great community service project. If you have more questions about how to get involved please emailor call Aeric Ripley at 463-8336.

Household Hazardous Waste Program

The City of Alma in conjunction with the City of St. Louis, conducts a Household Hazardous Waste Program. Residents

hazardous waste

may drop off unwanted items

such as batteries, paints, pesticides/herbicides and cleaning liquids. This year's collection dates are:

May 7: 8:00 am - 4:30 p.m.

May 8: 8:00 am - 7:30 p.m.

May 9: 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.

Remember... Dispose of your prescription drugs safely. They are NOT accepted as part of the Household Hazardous Waste Program.

Fluorescent Bulb Collection for

Alma & St. Louis Businesses

The cities of Alma and St. Louis will also be providing their 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 6, 2013 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.

Prescription Drop Site

Gratiot County now has two permanent prescription drop sites. Individuals may dispose of their outdated or unused medications at anytime at the following locations:

Alma Police Department

525 E. Superior St.

989-463-8317

Hours of operation: Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Gratiot County Sheriff's Department

226 E. Center

989-875-5211

Hours of operation: 24 hours/7 days a week.

Sharps disposal is now available at Gratiot Community Mental Health. Bring your containers to the reception desk (north entrance of the building). For more information, contact Gratiot Community Mental Health at 989-463-4971.

Red Cross Blood Drives

Every two seconds, someone in the Unites States needs blood. By making an appointment to donate blood this month, you can help the Red Cross meet the needs of patients in our community and across the nation.

Upcoming blood drives are:

Tuesday, April 2: 1:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Alma First Presbyterian Church

Wednesday, April 10: 8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Fulton High School

Tuesday, April 30: noon - 6:00 p.m.

ZCBJ Hall, Bannister

For more information or to schedule an appointment, please call

463-3209.

Yard Waste Program Begins

The Yard Waste program begins on April 1 and will be collected on your regular trash collection day and must be in paper bags, cardboard boxes and/or trash containers marked "yard waste". Tree limbs should be placed in piles, not bundled, with all stems lying in the same direction. To get the complete info on the yard waste program, follow this link.

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 conc erning 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.

Park Shelter Reservation Program

Alma has many beautiful parks throughout the city, some of which have shelters which you can reserve for your special events. Reservations are accepted through September 30 each year. You can download the reservation formand bring it to City Hall with the appropriate fee.

Pine River Canoe Map

Looking for some fun this summer? Check out Gratiot County's Pine River Canoe Trail map. The route runs from Lumberjack Park in Riverdale to the Pine River Boat Launch in Alma. Take some time to explore the mighty Pine and take in the beautiful scenery along the way. Be sure to pack a lunch and enjoy the ride!

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Issue: 49