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City of Alma E-Newsletter

News That's Important for You!

April 2014

City of Alma FY2015 Annual Budget and
Capital Improvement Program
 
The City of Alma will present the FY2015 Annual Budget & Capital Improvement Program to the City Commission and citizens at their regular Commission meeting on April 8, 2014 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 8th.
 
Budget review meetings will be held and the public is encouraged to attend.
Noxious Weed Program

weed  

The City of Alma enforces a noxious weed ordinance. All property owners are required to keep weeds and grass mowed. 

All lot owners must cut the noxious weeds or the weeds will be cut and the costs will be assessed against the property by special assessment.

If you have any questions please contact City Assessor Kathy Roslund at 463-8356 or [email protected]

"Spring Fling" Golf Outing 

 

golfer The Alma Action Association 7th Annual Spring Fling Golf Outing will be on Saturday, May 3, 2014 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.
"Spring Fling" Carnival 

The golf outing is not the only activity happening the first weekend in May.  The Spring Fling Kids' Carnival is scheduled for May 2nd, 3rd & 4th.  The 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 2nd 4:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.; Saturday, May 3rd 10:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. and Sunday, May 4th 11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.  Come to downtown Alma and enjoy a great day with the kids!
Keep Alma Beautiful Cleanup Day

   

Make your calendars for the 4th Annual Keep Alma Beautiful Cleanup Day on Saturday, April 26th starting at 9 am. Bring your shovels, wheelbarrows, rakes and gloves and come help us get downtown ready for spring. Follow the link for more information.  

KAB Flower Planting Day

  KAB Planting Day 1

On Saturday, May 17th 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 email or call Aeric Ripley at 463-8336.  


HO-DEE-HO...HERE COMES THE PEEPS RIGHT TO THE ALMA PUBLIC LIBRARY!!   Yes, it is the third annual PEEPS EXTRAVAGANZA! The Extravaganza is a contest where participants create a diorama showing a favorite scene from a book or film, depicted through the use of "PEEPS".  Although it is too late to submit an entry, stop by the Library and vote on your favorite display.  Voting will take place through April 16th, with the winners announced on, Thursday, April 17th. The best of luck to all of our participants.

Data Verification

 

The Assessing Department will be conducting on-site property inspections from spring through the fall months. The purpose of verifying data is to ensure like properties are assessed uniformly and accurately, at 50% of market value.

 

Property owners within selected neighborhoods will receive informational letters prior to a visit from the Field Staff. Data that the Field Staff will verify includes exterior measurements, property features and interior information. While property owners are not required to allow department personnel into their homes, a complete inspection will help ensure the home is being assessed correctly.

 

If the Field Staff should visit the home while the homeowner is away, a door hanger will be left to indicate they were there. The Department asks that if owners find a notice on their door, they please call the Assessing office and schedule an appointment to complete the appraisal.

 

Your cooperation in interacting with our staff is greatly appreciated!  If you have any questions regarding Data verification or other property assessment issues, please contact the Assessing Department at 989-463-8356 or [email protected].

Household Hazardous Waste Program

hazardous waste  

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. This year's collection dates are:

 

May 6: 8:00 am - 4:30 p.m.

May 7: 8:00 am - 7:30 p.m.
May 8: 8:00 am - 4:30 p.m.
 
The collection program will take place at the Public Works Garage,800 Washington. 

Appointment are required and can be made by calling 463-8339. For more information, please follow the link
Pedestrian & Bicycle Safety
 
An important component of being safe as a pedestrian or a bicyclist is being seen. Nearly 60% of all pedestrian fatalities occur between the hours of 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. It is also during this time that a low percentage people are walking. (Federal Highway administration Pub. No. FHWA-SA-01-001) Between dusk and dawn, it is prudent to wear light colored or reflective (or retro-reflective) clothing. Light colors such as yellow and white can be seen in low light situations, but retro-reflective clothing is up to three times more visible.

 

Colors as seen at night by motorists:

 

Color
Distance
Blue
55 feet
Red
80 feet
Yellow
120 feet
White
180 feet
Retro-reflective
500 feet

    

While these recommendations are true for most of the year, light colored clothing while beneficial most of the year become "camouflage" in snowy conditions.

 

If you are planning to walk or run within the boundaries of the public streets during the time period between dusk and dawn it is recommended that you carry a flashlight or some type of lighted signal.  Be sure that motorist are able to see you as well as you can see them.

 

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.

 

Water Conservation Tips

Follow the tips below for saving water around the house:

Kitchen

About 8 percent of in-home water use takes place in the kitchen.

  • Don't rinse dishes before loading dishwasher. Water saved: 20 gallons per load.
  • Wash only full loads in the dishwasher. An efficient dishwasher usually uses much less water than washing dishes by hand.
  • Install a low-flow faucet aerator, which can cut water use in half. Water saved: 1 to 2 gallons per minute.
  • When buying a new dishwasher, consider purchasing a water-saving model. (New models use up to 25 percent less water than older ones.) Water saved: 3 gallons per load.
� 1996-2014 Lower Colorado River Authority
Red Cross Blood Drives
 
The American Red Cross asks eligible blood donors to give something that means something this winter. Give a gift that can help save a life--a blood donation.

 

Friday, April 11:  noon - 5:45 p.m.

Ithaca Community Center 

 

Tuesday, April 15: 1:00 p.m. - 6:45 p.m

Alma First Presbyterian Church

 

Thursday, April 17:  10:00 a.m. - 3:45 p.m.

Fulton High School

 

Thursday, April 24: noon - 5:45 p.m.

ZCBJ Hall, Bannister  

 

To schedule your appointment, you may call 1-800-Red-Cross, 989-463-3209 or visit www.redcrossblood.org.


 
Yard Waste Program Begins
  
The Yard Waste program begins on April 7 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

 

All City services, DART and Library are closed on Friday, April 18th in observance of Good Friday.

 

Garage Sale Sign & Yard Sale Regulations

garage sale sign  

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 and yard sale regulations.

  

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 check the Park Reservation calendar, download the reservation form and 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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gossip


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Issue: 61
 
 
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City of Alma

In This Issue
FY2015 Budget & CIP
Noxious Weed Program
Golf Outing
Carnival
KAB Clean up day
KAB Flower Planting
"PEEPS" Extravaganza!
Data Verification
Household Hazardous Waste
Pedestrian & Bicycle Safety
Prescription Drop Site
Water Conservation Tips
Red Cross Blood Drives
DON'T FORGET!

City of Alma offices/services closings: 

  

 Good Friday

4/18/14
 
Memorial Day
5/26/14  

July 4th
7/4/14

Labor Day:
9/1/14

Thanksgiving:
11/27/14
11/28/14

Christmas:
12/24/14
12/25/14

City of Alma Officials:

 

Mayor

 

Vice-Mayor

 

Commissioner
 
Commissioner 

 

 Commissioner

 

Commissioner

Nick Piccolo
Commissioner

 

City Manager
(989-463-8336

 

Aeric Ripley
Asst. City Manager/  DDA Director
(989)463-8336

 

Public Safety Director
(989)463-8317

 

Public Services Director
(989)463-8346

 

City Clerk
(989)463-8336

 

City Assessor
(989)463-8356

 

Building Inspector
(989)463-8356

 

Finance Director
(989)463-8346

 

Transportation Services Director
(989)463-6016

 

Library Director
(989)463-3966

 

Controller
(989)463-8346
  
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
  
Emergency
911
City of Alma
525 E. Superior St., PO Box 278
Alma, MI 48801-0278
(989)463-8336