City of Alma E-Newsletter

News that's important for you!

September 2015

School starts

September 8th

Please watch for kids and drive carefully!

Employment Opportunities

The City has full-time job openings for a mechanic (equipment technician) and Water Technician. We also need Crossing Guards, so if you have a couple hours a day you would like to fill, this may be the job for you.

For complete information on the employment opportunities, please check out our website.

Taxes D

ue September 15th

Property owners are reminded that property taxes are due by 5:00 p.m., Tuesday, September 15, 2015. Taxes paid after September 15th will be subject to a 4% penalty.

Don't forget the 2nd Annual Alma Grand Prix of Cyclocross day of racing at the "old airport" site, east of Bridge Ave. on September 12th. It promises to be another great event. Check out the link for more info or like them on Facebook.

Luck

y MacDuck Day

Mark your calendars for Saturday, September 12, 2015 for the 14th Annual Lucky MacDuck Community Day. The activities will be held south of the Alma Public Library at Highland Park beginning at 10:30 a.m. Lucky MacDuck is a day of fun, games and activities for the young and young at heart!

There will lots of children's "quacktivities," an art exhibit, music, dancing, food, drinks and a 50/50 raffle. As always, the day concludes with the infamous Lucky MacDuck Derby down the Pine River.

For more information and to purchase your ducks, stop in at ABC Music, True-Value Hardware, Alma Community Art Center, Alma Farm Market, and on site that day. For more info,call 989-285-3171.

United Way
Community Picnic

Save the date for Wednesday, September 16 from 4 - 6 p.m. for the United Way Community Picnic in the Park at the Tracy Band Shell in Wright Park. Enjoy complimentary food, music and games. Learn more about your local United Way and the many area nonprofit organizations they serve.

Trash Service Delay

All Granger services will be closed on Monday, September 7 in observance of Labor Day. As such, curbside services will be delayed one day that week. Normal pick up will resume on Monday, September 14.

Also, did you know there is a disposal center at 2355 Michigan Avenue? The Granger Disposal Center is open to the public for self-haul disposal of household trash, construction materials, furniture and appliances Monday through Friday, 7:30 to 4:00.

For additional information, email infor@grangernet.com, visit www.grangernet.com or call at 517-372-2800 or 888-947-2643.

Construction Update

West Superior Street-

The final course of asphalt will be complete early in the week of August 31^st. However, the road will remain closed to thru traffic because once the asphalt is complete, stamped concrete cross walks will be installed. Once the crosswalks have been placed, the concrete will need at least (7) days of cure time. We anticipate the road to be open to thru traffic in mid-September. There may be lane closures occasionally so that street lights and landscaping can be placed. Anticipated completion date is mid-October.

Michigan Avenue- The water main piping is complete on Michigan Avenue. The pipe still needs to pass two consecutive bacterial testing. Once completed, the water main will be connected to the side streets and the service lines will be connected to the new 16" main. We anticipate substantial project completion by mid-September.

Scottish Heights Restroom & Parking Lot- Construction has begun and is anticipated to be complete by the end of October.

Riverside Park Pedestrian Bridge and Trail Extension-

Construction is underway on the concrete shared use path connecting the Riverwalk and Fred Meijer Hartland Trail. The two paths will be connected via Prospect to Mechanic, Mechanic to North State Street, and ending at North State Street to Riverside Park. Completion date - November.

Mechanic Street Shared Use Path & Canoe Launch- The concrete shared use path will run along Lincoln Avenue from the Fred Meijer Heartland Trail south to the Pine River. A handicap accessible canoe launch will also be constructed at the south end of Lincoln Avenue to access the Pine River. Completion date - early October.

Slater Street Reconstruction- Slater Street is still under construction. The sanitary sewer main is nearly complete. However, due to de-watering of the excavation, the project has slowed down. Once de-watering is complete, the remaining sanitary and storm sewer work will resume. After the underground utility work is complete, the road bed will be cut down and a new base will be installed as well as concrete curb and gutter and drive approaches. The project is expected to be substantially complete in early October.

Red Cross Blood Drives

Help save a life during our beautiful fall season by donating blood. Following are the drives for September:

Tuesday, September 1, noon - 6:00 p.m.

Ithaca Community Center

Wednesday, September 9, 10:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Pine River Healthcare, 1149 W. Monroe Rd., St. Louis

Wednesday, September 16, 1:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Alma Public Library

Tuesday, September 22, 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Alma College Van Dusen Commons

Thursday, September 24, noon - 5:00 p.m.

St. Louis 1st Church of God

Tuesday, September 29, noon - 6:00 p.m.

St. Louis Church of Christ

Wednesday, September 30, 1:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Central Michigan Youth for Christ

Cheesman Rd., Alma

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

Water Conservation Tips

Winterize outdoor spigots when temperatures dip below freezing to prevent pipes from leaking or bursting.
For more immediate hot water and energy savings, insulate hot water pipes.
Use a commercial car wash that recycles water. Or, wash your car on the lawn, and you'll water your grass at the same time.
Use a hose nozzle or turn off the water while you wash your car. You'll save up to 100 gallons every time.