City of Alma E-Newsletter

News that's important for you!

March 2015

City News

As the warm weather approaches, so does the beginning of construction season. The City Commission has many busy meetings ahead with presentations and public hearings for proposed Special Assessment Districts (SAD) and construction projects. Scheduled for March so far are:

March 10, 2015 - 6:00 p.m.

Public Hearing on the Final 2013 SAD #6
for the Pine Ave. Sanitary Sewer

March 24, 2015 - 6:00 p.m.

Presentations on the proposed construction of
sanitary sewer leads and sidewalks on Argyle Rd.
and Slater St. and sidewalk on Orchard St.

All affected property owners will receive notice by mail on the upcoming City Commission proceedings. If you have any questions, please feel free to call 463-8336.

Michigan Ave. Water Line Construction

Construction on the water line connecting Alma and St. Louis will begin in mid-April, subject to frost laws. The line will be installed on the north side of the road beginning at Bridge Ave. and will end close to the water tower in St. Louis (click link to see route). Construction is expected to last into mid-fall. Access will be open to local traffic only. More information will be available as the project begins.

Superior Street Construction

Reconstruction of W. Superior St. from Wright Ave. to Charles Ave. will begin right after Memorial Day. This too will last until mid-fall. Access will be open to local traffic only. More information will be available as the project begins.

Water Plant Expansion Project

Progress continues on the Water Plant Expansion Project. On February 27, 2015, filter #3 was put on line. Now to you and me, that doesn't mean a lot, but to the engineers and staff, this is a big deal! With the new filter up and running, filters #1 & #2 can be rebuilt. Plans are to have water to St. Louis by late fall.

2015 Board of Review

Property assessment notices are in the mail to residents of the City of Alma. With that in mind, the Board of Review will hear property tax appeals at City Hall on the following days:

Appointment only:

Tuesday - 3/17: 9:00 a.m. to noon & 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Wednesday - 3/18: 9:00 a.m. to noon & 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Open session:

Wednesday - 3/18: 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Thursday - 3/19: 9:00 a.m. to noon & 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Call 463-8356 for an appointment.

Parks & Recreation

The Parks & Recreation Committee is hard at work on the Park & Recreation Master Plan and are asking for your help. One of the first things they need to do is to conduct a survey to get the opinions of our park users. Would you please take a couple minutes and complete the survey? Thanks!

Police Department
Fee Schedule

The following fee scheduled has recently been implemented by the Police Department:

	Fee
Local Background Checks	Free
Firearm License to Purchase	Free
Bike License	$1.00
Accident/Incident Report	$10.00
PBT	$10.00
Ink Prints	$10.00
Dog Impoundment	$10.00
Live Traps	$40.00 (deposit only)
Sex Offender Registry Fee	$50.00
Livescan Fingerprinting	$65.00

If you have any questions, please call 463-8317.

Gratiot Downtown Art Expo

Don't forget to submit your banner art ideas for the 3rd Annual "Gratiot Downtown Art Exposition". Alma, St. Louis and Ithaca are partnering to bring locally produced art to our downtowns in the form of painted banners. If you are or know of an "artist" and would like to participate, please download the information brochure/entry form before March 15th and submit your idea for the committee's review. If you have questions, please call Aeric at 463-8336.

The Peeps are Coming!!

The Alma Public Library's Spring Peeps Extravaganza Contest is fast approaching. The challenge is to create a diorama of your favorite book or movie and use peeps to represent the characters. Entries can be no larger than 18"x18" Create a setting, furnishings, a back-drop---you are only limited by your imagination!! Entries will be placed in three categories: Age 11 and under; ages 12-17; and ages 18+. The 1st place winner in each category will win a crisp, new $50.00 bill. Honorable mentions will receive a small surprise. Entries must be turned into the library during the week of March 9 -14, before 5:30pm. "PEEPLE" WILL BEGIN VOTING ON THEIR FAVORITE ENTRY BEGINNING MONDAY, MARCH 16. Voting will continue through Wednesday, April 1. The winners will be announced on Thursday, April 2. We hope that everybody will join in the fun and challenge your imaginations!!!

Yard Waste Program

Start date for this year's yard waste program is April 6, 2015. Yard waste 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.

Trash Collection Update

It seems strange to think about the spring thaw when it we have seen lows of -20 degrees, but the reality is, spring is coming (seriously!).

As the thaw begins, seasonal weight restrictions (frost laws) will be put into effect in our area. When frost laws are active, our trash hauler, Granger, must carry smaller loads in their trucks. Because of these restrictions, they have to make more trips to the landfill or transfer station than they usually do in order to keep truck weights low.

This can change the way they run the routes, so they want to caution all residents to have their trash out by 7 a.m. (or as early as 6:00 a.m. in some communities) on trash day to make sure it will be collected, regardless of the pickup time they have become accustomed to. Remember, there are no set times for collection, and there are many factors that can affect when trash is collected. Having trash out by 7 a.m. (or as early as 6:00 a.m. in some communities) is always the best way to ensure it gets collected.

The Alma Public Library is now able to offer e-book access to its patrons! Library borrowers will need to have a valid library card, with no outstanding fines or fees due to the library to use the e-book collection. Patrons can borrow two books at a time for seven days. We hope to expand the number of items that patrons can borrow as the e-book collection grows. E-book borrowers will need to check out the library's homepage to download the appropriate app to their smart device so they can access the e-books through the Axis360 program. There is an Axis360 icon on the homepage which will take library patrons to the titles available in the Alma collection. We hope that you will check out this new service and see if e-books are for you.

ed Cross Blood Drives

The American Red Cross asks that you give a gift that can help save a life -- a blood donation.

Tuesday, March 3: noon - 6:00 p.m.

Ithaca Community Center

Thursday, March 5: 1:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Lincoln Rd. United Methodist Church

Monday, March 16: 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Breckenridge High School

Wednesday, March 18: 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Alma College

Thursday, March 19: noon - 5:00 p.m.

St. Louis Church of God

Thursday, March 26: noon - 6:00 p.m.

St. Louis Church of Christ

Thursday, March 26: 1:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Alma Public Library

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

Water

Conservation Tips

Upgrade older toilets with water-saving WaterSense� labeled models.
If your toilet flapper doesn't close properly after flushing, replace it.
Use a WaterSense� labeled showerhead. They're inexpensive, easy to install, and can save you up to 750 gallons a month.
Turn off the water while you brush your teeth and save up to 4 gallons a minute. That's up to 200 gallons a week for a family of four.
If your toilet was installed before 1992, purchasing a WaterSense� labeled toilet can reduce the amount of water used for each flush.
Consider buying a dual-flush toilet. It has two flush options: a half-flush for liquid waste and a full-flush for solid waste.

Precinct Inspectors are still needed. If interested, contact Barb Gager at 463-8336 or bgager@ci.alma.mi.us

The Annual Water Report is now available on the City's

website.

Daylight Savings time begins 3/8/15. Don't forget to set your clock ahead one hour!

On-Street Parking Ban Ends April 1. Overnight parking on the street will then be allowed.

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