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TOWN OF ALTONA
"You’re always welcome in Altona." |
May 20, 2002
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| In this issue...
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Special points of interest...
- Council meetings are on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month.
- Works & Operations meetings are on the first Tuesday of each month
- Community & Social Development meetings are on the third Tuesday of each month.
- Finance & Administration meetings are on the third Wednesday of each month.
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"Altona, an attractive, safe, caring, progressive community
which provides cultural, recreational and educational services for
all ages and is capable of providing employment
and entrepreneurial opportunities."
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| Mayor’s Desk - Deputy Mayor Melvin Klassen |
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During their regular meeting of Council in April the Councillors approved the municipal budget for the coming year. The budget, when approved, sets the tone for the present years expenditures, and gives some direction to the Council’s future plans. This budget speaks to the present in that:
- it continues it’s commitment to the Altona Development Corporation with a grant of $24,000
- it allows for upgrades in the areas of storm sewers, street overlays and much needed street lighting. ($55,000)
- it includes the payments for upgrading essential fire department equipment and payments for our department vehicles. ($47,000)
- the Town has also committed to a Grants Budget in the amount of $57,000 to fund various community groups. Some examples are:
- Altona District Chamber of Commerce - $35,000
- Sunflower Festival - $10,000
- C.A.R.E - $2,000
- it continues the policy of placing some monies into reserves which allows for some flexibility to deal with unexpected emergencies, such as: equipment and vehicle replacements.
This budget also speaks to the future in that:
- it allows for the creation of a landscaping plan for the Altona Cemetery ($5,600)
- it provides monies to our Park facilities so that they will remain a drawing card to our community. We are designating $40,000 towards our park ($25,000 of which is for campground upgrades).
In addition to the above, Town of Altona is also continuing with the Special Levy of approximately .5 mill ($42,250) for Health Related costs. This levy allows us to work together with the Town of Gretna and the R.M.’s of Rhineland and Montcalm on projects such as the new medical clinic and Medical Doctor recruitment.
The Budget for this year provides for an increase of 1.1% in the Municipal Mill Rate. Our municipal budgeted expenditures total $4,282,563.19. The actual amount of taxes to be collected for municipal use are $2,278,826.99 with the balance of $2,003,736.20 coming from other sources of revenue such as provincial grants, users fees, etc. In Altona this means that a house valued at $100,000 will have an increase of approximately $12.00 in their municipal tax if their assessment remains as
last year. In a commercial assessment of $100,000 the increase is approximately $17.00 if the assessment remains as last year.
It should be noted that we, in Altona, were reassessed for 2002 and this reassessment will affect your final taxes payable.
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Councillor’s Corner - Councillor Vaughn Stephenson
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It has been said that “Life is a competition”. This is not only true for us as individuals but as a community as well. More and more emphasis is being placed on communities to provide their existing and future residents with the latest and greatest facilities and services regardless of population size. With our society being as mobile as it is, people do not think twice to uproot and move to communities that provide the amenities their families require.
Your local government is forced to provide services and facilities, that provide people with lifestyle choices and opportunities, if it expects people of all ages to continue to call Altona home. Altona is faced with fierce competition to attract businesses and population in order not only to survive but continue to grow.
Town Council is committed to its mission statement of making “Altona, an attractive, safe, caring, progressive community which provides cultural, recreational and educational services for all ages and is capable of providing employment and entrepreneurial opportunities.”
Each one of us has a responsibility to do our part to make our community a continuing success. This is no time to stop moving forward. We need to talk to everyone we meet about what a great community we reside in. Be an ambassador for your Town and its uniqueness. Help out in the “competition”. Remember “You can only coast downhill.”
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Congratulations Kelly!
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 The Town of Altona would like to congratulate Kelly Gerbrandt on her graduation from the University of Manitoba Continuing Education Division’s “Certificate Program for Manitoba Municipal Administrators”.
The Town of Altona encourages staff to purse training opportunities in order to provide the best possible service to the residents of Altona.
Congratulations Kelly!
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Decoration Day
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| You are invited to the annual Decoration Day ceremonies to be held at the;
Altona Cenotaph
Sunday, June 9, 2002
at 2:00 p.m.
Remember those who gave their all so that we can live in freedom.
Picture supplied by the Red River Valley Echo.
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Public Works Day
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The Public Works and Recreation Operations staff invite you to join them in celebrating Public Works Week with an:
OPEN HOUSE
on
SATURDAY,
MAY 25TH, 2002
TIME: 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
PLACE: PUBLIC WORKS SHOP
355-2ND STREET N.E.
ACTIVITIES:
- TOURS
- RIDES
- DEMONSTRATIONS
- DISPLAYS
Free coffee, drinks, and dainties. Some prizes and giveaways.
May 20 - 25th is Public Works Week.
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Public Works Department Hours
Monday - Friday From 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Landfill Hours
Tuesday - Saturday 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. |
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ATTENTION ALL PROPERTY OWNERS
The Town of Altona is requesting that all property owners (both vacant and developed lots) control the growth of weeds and grass on their properties on a regular basis. We wish to advise all property owners that they need to keep their properties in good order or the Town will hire a contractor to maintain the property at the owner’s expense. |
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Altona Library - Hot Off The Press
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 New Adult Fiction:
- A Kiss Remembered by Sandra Brown
- Daddy’s Little Girl by Mary Higgins Clark
- Saucer by Stephen Connts
- Midnight Runner by Jack Higgins
- Three Fates by Nora Roberts
COMING UP:
| Summer Reading Program... |
SEARCH FOR
TREASURE
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READ FOR
PLEASURE
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Registration begins June 25th. |
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Hours for June, July and August
Tuesdays & Thursdays 10 a.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Wednesday & Friday 10 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Saturday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. |
Thanks to everyone who donated books to the book sale and to those who purchased books.
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| ALTONA POLICE SERVICES |
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 BY-LAW - Fireworks - Altona has a by-law “The Firearms/Fireworks By-Law” which prohibits any use of fireworks in the Town Limits.
- ... “no person shall fire or other wise discharge or use any fire works in the limits of the Town”
- “every person who fires or otherwise discharges or uses any fireworks contrary to provisions of this By-Law is guilty of an offence under this By-Law.”
- “any Peace Officer may seize any Fireworks that he/she on reasonable grounds believes has been used in the com- mission of an offence under this By-Law.”
- “every person who contravenes, or refuses, omits or fails to obey or observe, any provision of this By-Law is guilty of an offence and is liable, on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding $500 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 30 days or to both a fine and imprisonment.”
Some local businesses have chosen to sell fireworks but even if you purchase them in Altona they are not allowed to be set off in Altona. Persons will be charged and their fireworks confiscated.
 ALTONA POLICE SERVICE BIKE RODEO
TO BE HELD ON JUNE 1, 2002 FROM NOON TO 3:00 P.M.
Hot Dogs and pop at noon.
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FOR MORE INFORMATION REGARDING THE FIREWORKS BY-LAW OR THE BIKE RODEO CALL THE ALTONA POLICE SERVICES AT 324-5373.
OFFICE HOURS FROM 8:30 - 4:30 P.M. |
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| Altona Aquatic Centre |
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 The Aquatic Centre will open on June 1st at 1:00pm!
Free Swimming All Day
On June 1 Only
For more information on Swimming Rates and Times, Please see:
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