Municipal newsletter - No 63 - February 2013

A WORD FROM THE MAYOR – LOOKING AHEAD TO 2030

According to the latest INSEE statistics, Eguelshardt gained 100 inhabitants between 1999 and 2010, putting it at the top of all the municipalities in the canton, with a population increase of 20% over that period.

Looking for the reasons, we could mention the quality of life, the peace and quiet, the clean air, the beautiful landscape, our lively associations, the nearby D662 road that makes commuting easier, the reasonable price of building land, and weekend houses bought by households who make them their main home – their occupants are now declared and counted by the census takers, whereas weekend visitors were not. It is probably a bit of all of these at once.

Let us nevertheless be careful and not give up. We must keep this minimum population to ensure the survival of our school and keep our village attractive. We need to imagine Eguelshardt in 2030.

We created our nursery school and the after-school service. Although the municipality contributes financially, meals and childcare are still very expensive for families in these times of crisis. What can we do?

We created a single primary class (CP to CM2) which works well. Perhaps sooner or later we will manage to set up a shared school arrangement with a neighbouring village, if necessary?

We have started creating a small communal housing estate of 4 plots at the eastern end of rue de Waldeck. Ideally we should find another of the same size before these 4 plots are sold. Note too that 5 or 6 houses are for sale.

We have started revising the land use plan (POS) to turn it into a local urban plan (PLU). Land is needed for farming and land is needed for people. Space must be saved as much as possible and choices must be made that respect the Grenelle environmental regulations (see the council report below).

Emile Eitel.

RETIREMENT OF MRS DOMINIQUE HOUY, TOWN HALL SECRETARY

Aged 58, after 42 years of work including 21 as Town Hall secretary in Eguelshardt, Mrs Dominique Houy retired on 1 January 2013. The mayor therefore organised a small, friendly gathering at the Town Hall on Sunday 30.12.2012, bringing together the members of the municipal council and all the municipal staff to honour the departing secretary.

For the mayor, in a village the departure of a Town Hall secretary is always a notable event for the population, even a small wrench for some, because in rural areas such an employee is very often that “social worker” or fairy godmother who finds the solution to difficult paperwork. She always leaves her mark and, in the countryside, she is a key figure.

The mayor pointed out that Mrs Houy served the population with all the dedication and discretion that are the hallmark of the secretary’s job; she did this work out of vocation and always took great care of the residents.

Town Hall secretaries are very often a guarantee of stability for the municipal administration: when mayors change, secretaries stay – and so Dominique saw four mayors come and go in 22 years, and had to put up with all of them.

On behalf of the municipality, the mayor thanked Mrs Dominique Houy for her service and wished her an excellent second life from 1 January 2013. Knowing her passion for painting, he presented her, on behalf of the municipality, with a set of canvases, an easel, gouache paints and brushes as a token of gratitude.

MRS SABINE NIES IS OUR NEW TOWN HALL SECRETARY

Since 1 November 2012, Mrs Sabine Nies had been helping out at the Town Hall office. Since 1 January she has officially been our new Town Hall secretary.

Aged 47, Mrs Sabine Nies has 17 years’ experience in secretarial work and sales administration in the private sector, and one year’s experience as a school bus escort in Eguelshardt (2004-2010).

She is very welcoming. She speaks fluent German, a much appreciated quality in our border region. She quickly adapted to her new job and is taking over the Town Hall files step by step, with clear success.

The mayor has already noted her keen interest in her new work, her fierce determination to succeed, her listening skills, her thoroughness and her sense of responsibility. He wishes her every satisfaction in her new job serving our residents.

SENIORS’ MEAL

The traditional seniors’ meal, offered by the municipality, took place on Sunday 6 January 2013 in a friendly and festive atmosphere.

2012 STATISTICS

In 2012 the municipality recorded:

• Births: 5
• Marriages: 3
• Deaths: 3
• New residents: 25

TRAVEL AUTHORISATION FOR MINORS

An inter-ministerial circular of 20 November 2012 abolishes, from 1 January 2013:

• individual travel authorisations for French minors leaving the country;
• collective travel authorisations for French minors on school trips abroad or at holiday camps.

In practice, a French minor can cross borders without a travel authorisation, but with a valid national identity card or passport.

MINUTES OF COUNCIL MEETINGS

We remind you that any citizen may request a copy of the minutes of municipal council meetings, on payment of the costs borne by the municipality (printing and postage). Please ask at the Town Hall.

DIARY

• Friday 1 February: CIA meeting in the salle Rapin at 7.30pm
• Sunday 3 February: walk and Speckfest organised by “La Vigilante” at the shooting range
• Thursday 7 February: monthly meeting, Seniors’ Club, salle Rapin

PLAYERS WANTED

Entente Cristal et Fer 2008 (a grouping of the football clubs of Baerenthal, Mouterhouse, Lemberg, Meisenthal-Goetzenbruck and individual players from Eguelshardt).

AS Mouterhouse is looking for young footballers in the U15 category, born in 1998-1999 (first licence, exceptional transfer or other) to complete the squad for the 2012-2013 season.

We offer you a team sport (training on Wednesdays, matches at weekends) in a good atmosphere, with facilities and equipment provided free of charge. If you or someone you know is interested, do not hesitate to call us: the president: 03 87 06 45 82 – U15 manager: 03 87 06 84 75 or 03 87 96 16 50.

“LA VIGILANTE” SHOOTING CLUB

The shooting club is holding its traditional Speckfest on Sunday 3 February 2013.

The programme: an 8 km walk in the forest, starting at 9.30am from the shooting range. From 12 noon, in true Speckfest style, pea soup will be served in the heated clubhouse, and open-air fires will let everyone grill slices of bacon and sausages.

Prices: €8 for adults, €4 for under-12s, free for under-6s.

Information and registration: Mr J.-M. Christmann, tel. 03 87 96 10 82, or Mrs Martine Tousch, tel. 03 87 06 55 20.

BIRTH

We have heard of the birth of Laël on 20 January 2013 to Xavier and Laetitia Nicolas. Our sincere congratulations to the happy parents, and welcome to Laël.

ROAD SAFETY NEWS

French Road Safety (Sécurité Routière) is 40 years old. Four decades of campaigning and changing behaviour have cut the number of road deaths by four and saved 320,000 lives.

November 2012: road deaths almost unchanged, but 297 people still lost their lives. In November 2012, 297 people died on French roads, compared with 296 in November 2011 (+0.4%).

THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE IS RECRUITING

To guarantee the Army the numbers on which its operational capability depends, an innovative campaign aims to recruit around 10,000 young people in 2013.

The soldier’s profession covers 120 jobs grouping nearly 300 roles, with rewarding professional experience: skills and personal qualities that last a lifetime, and real opportunities for social advancement.

The campaign is tailored to young people’s expectations, with a strategy that directs them to the website. Testimonials are used for authenticity. Finally, its innovative “parallax” filming immerses viewers and web users directly in the soldier’s real daily life: training, exercises, missions at home and operations abroad.

On the St Louis esplanade, after the press briefing and the product presentation, around a hundred soldiers, including those who took part in the filming, will present the Army’s missions in the service of France and its people through 4 practical workshops.

Ministry of Defence: 14, rue Saint-Dominique, 75007 Paris.

MILITARY EXERCISES IN OPEN COUNTRY

From the afternoon of Tuesday 19 February to the evening of Wednesday 20 February 2013, the 16th Chasseurs Battalion will carry out infantry combat training in the Bitche area with 200 soldiers on foot supported by helicopters.

At the request of the Colonel commanding the regiment, I have authorised the unit to manoeuvre on Eguelshardt territory, in particular in the Petite Suisse area, during this exercise.

I thank our residents for accepting any inconvenience the exercise may cause. We are fortunate not to suffer real war but only a short training exercise. And we must support our soldiers who risk their lives in various parts of the world, especially in Mali, to free us from terrorism, defend the freedom of the African peoples and save our citizens.

Thank you to our soldiers. And thank you to our residents for their understanding.

The mayor.

MUNICIPAL COUNCIL MEETING OF 18 JANUARY 2013 IN BRIEF

Petite-Suisse housing estate: the council authorises the mayor to submit the application for the development permit to the DDT (département planning office).

AFPA area: with a view to possibly setting up an Association Foncière Pastorale Autorisée (a landowners’ association for grazing land), the Moselle Mountain Economy Association (AMEM) and the Northern Vosges Regional Nature Park (PNRVN), at the request of the municipalities of Philippsbourg, Eguelshardt and Bitche, studied the environment (soil, fauna, flora…), produced the necessary maps and informally consulted the owners of the plots considered for the project. In the end, the proposed area only covers the plots in the narrow valley; it excludes the Hoffeld meadows, which are already well maintained and, in truth, lie outside the scope of the project. The municipal council approved the proposed area (6 votes for and one abstention).

A public inquiry will be held and the owners will be able to give their opinion. The project would fail if, at the founding General Meeting, the total area owned by the owners publicly declaring themselves in favour represented less than 50% of the area within the perimeter.

Land use plan: the municipality issued a call for tenders to recruit a consultant for the studies to revise the POS and turn it into a PLU. On the advice of the planning committee, the municipal council has awarded this task to the firm O.T.E. of Illkirch, which has 31 months to draw up the project. It will hold many meetings, at least 2 of which will be public. Residents will have their say: from 1 March 2013, a register will be available at the Town Hall during opening hours where they can write down their views if they wish. They will also be able to comment during the public inquiry that will follow the study, and the prefect will then issue the order establishing the new PLU.