Municipal newsletter - No 62 - January 2013

MUNICIPAL COUNCIL MEETING OF 21.12.2012

Summary of the main decisions:

Planned felling for the 2014 forestry year in the communal forest: the municipal council adopts the programme of improvement felling set out in the current Forest Management Plan and proposed by the ONF (French National Forestry Office), namely thinning in plots 1a and 3a. The plan also provides for similar felling in plot 2a, but this was carried out early, in 2010. It is therefore postponed to 2021.

2012 budget amendments: the following amendments are made to the operating section of the general budget:

• Small equipment and supplies: reduced by €1,000
• Main remuneration (salaries): reduced by €1,000
• Social security contributions: reduced by €2,100
• Contributions to inter-municipal bodies: reduced by €4,100

Review of the rents of communal housing: the rents of communal housing will increase by 2% on 1 January 2012.

2013 capital expenditure from the general budget (M14): the council authorises the mayor to commit capital expenditure from January 2013, before the 2013 general budget is voted, up to a maximum of €123,398, i.e. a quarter of the total capital expenditure planned in 2012 (article L 1612-1 of the French local authorities code). The municipality will thus be able to pay invoices received in January and February for the works on Waldeck Castle and on the housing estate.

Speed indicator signs: the council plans to install two speed indicator signs, one at each entrance to the village, from spring 2013. The mayor will apply to the Conseil Général (département council) for a grant towards this project.

Proposed educational trail to discover the natural and historical heritage of the Eguelshardt communal forest and the Mouterhouse state forest: the study carried out by an ONF consultancy estimates the cost at €77,280. The project is considered far too lavish and much too expensive. A small working group of knowledgeable people is to be set up to look for less costly solutions and cut the costs drastically, even before contacting possible funders for grants.

Other news: Mrs Dominique Houy retired on 1 January 2013. In January and February 2013, Mrs Karine Paradis from Mouterhouse will reinforce the Town Hall office alongside Sabine Nies, 12 hours a week.

The mayor, Emile Eitel.

NEW ARRIVALS

Maurice Hausberger, Eliane Lang and Samuel Neu moved to rue du Waldeck in our village in November 2012. We wish them a warm welcome.

HAPPY NEWS

On 24 December 2012, Mr Yves Klopfenstein and Mrs Joëlle Federer were married at the Town Hall. We offer them our warmest congratulations and best wishes for their happiness.

DIARY

• Thursday 3 January: monthly meeting, Seniors’ Club, salle Rapin
• Sunday 6 January: seniors’ meal, offered by the municipality, salle Rapin

GREETINGS FROM WALDECK CASTLE

The works are progressing slowly but surely.

SEASON’S GREETINGS

The Mayor, the Deputy Mayors, the members of the Municipal Council and the municipal staff send you their warmest wishes for happiness, health and success. Happy New Year 2013!

THE SCHOOL CHRISTMAS PARTY – WHEN CHRISTMAS RHYMES WITH SOLIDARITY

The school’s 2012 Christmas party took place on Saturday 21 December in the Christiane Rapin village hall, in front of a large and very friendly audience.

Our nursery and primary pupils, clearly much more relaxed than their parents and grandparents, were to sing songs together in public, while the older ones each had to recite a short poem in turn. That explains the slightly tense look that mums and dads, anxious not to see their little ones fail, were trying to hide. Understandably so. In the end, everything went well.

The mayor opened the event by stressing how important school and family are in shaping a child’s personality, future and happiness. He mentioned a recent radio programme which revealed (even if it may raise a smile) that there are courses specially organised for parents to teach them how to bring up children with encouragement techniques that build “self-confidence”, while constantly reminding young people of their weaknesses and mistakes but never overwhelming them with shouting or violence – techniques that clash somewhat with the methods of the past. In any case, the mayor has noticed on his visits to our school that the pupils of Eguelshardt are relaxed, comfortable in their own skin and happy. The same goes for the pupils who use the school canteen, where they feel at home. In the mayor’s view, these good results are thanks to the teachers and their assistants, the nursery assistants, and he thanked them. His creed: everything for the child, everything for the school! The decline of our rural schools must be avoided at all costs, as it would lead to a vicious circle: small villages becoming less attractive, their population falling along with the number of pupils… sadly, sometimes leading to class closures.

The performances given by our pupils (songs, recitations and various actions) were warmly applauded by the audience, as was the arrival of Father Christmas, welcomed by the children as a true friend. This tall, very gentle man handed out chocolates and books, together with a short personal word of encouragement for each of them. Well done, Father Christmas!

THE INTER-ASSOCIATION SUPPORTS THE SCHOOL COOPERATIVE

Finally, in the presence of Father Christmas, the president of the Inter-Association, Mrs Marie-Jeanne Derou, publicly presented the school cooperative with a cheque for €1,500, taken from the profits of the bingo evening (loto) that she and her team organised on 10 November. This wonderful gesture of solidarity was given long applause by the parents. Many thanks to the Inter-Association!

POWER CUTS FOR WORKS

ERDF: Wednesday 16 January 2013, 8.30am to 12 noon

• Rue Nationale: no. 23 to no. 37
• Rue de la Gare: no. 37 to no. 44

NEW ISSUE OF MULTI-STREAM BAGS

At the next distribution session, the date of which is not yet known, a Sydèm’pass – a smart card with a barcode – will be given to every household or business that does not have one yet. This new tool is essential for the smooth running of the various distributions. The card, personalised with the logo of each municipality, makes it easier to find users in the database (Sydèm’base) and helps the multi-stream bags to be handed out more smoothly. You will also be asked for it at the recycling centre.

One single card will be handed personally to each household or business at the next multi-stream distribution. The card can also be collected from the Town Hall (during opening hours, please).

In the meantime, bags can still be collected from the Town Hall in Eguelshardt (during opening hours), as we want to help people who cannot get to the distribution lorry because they are at work.

In the event of loss or theft, a second card will be charged for and must be collected from the Sydème offices.

ACCESS RULES FOR THE BITCHE RECYCLING CENTRES

Following the introduction of the Sydem’Pass by the Sydème, the Syndicat des Communes has decided to purchase an extension of the database and card readers for the attendants, so that access to the recycling centres can be monitored precisely. As the Sydem’Pass cards are being handed out at Sydème sessions in the 46 municipalities, not all households will have one before the end of the first quarter of 2013.

The following access rules for the Bitche recycling centre are proposed once the residents of all municipalities have a Sydem’Pass: