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“The year of 2008 was a year of overcoming the standstill,” said Mayor Kostadin Paskalev while presenting the annual report of the municipality at a press conference on November 3. He added that the administration has opened up towards the people, although the progress was not enough. The mayor identified as major accomplishments the increased revenue, the repairs of streets and nurseries, and the nine accepted municipal applications for subsidies from the Regional Development Fund, the Ministry of Environment and Water, and the Administrative Capacity Program. However, he said that the creation of a general town-plan had been excessively delayed, and the problems with the hospital have persisted. Administration According to the review, the Blagoevgrad administration has become more dynamic over the past year. The number of overdue reports and correspondence with citizens has dropped ten times. For the first time, the decisions of the Expert Council at the municipality are available to the public through the updated website. The mayor said that at least five problems per month are solved through e-mail. Nonetheless, he called some of the officials inert and inactive people, who hindered the improvement of the services. Infrastructure With respect to the general town plan, Paskalev said that the mixed funding and the lack of uniform requirements had caused the postponement. In 2008, several roads to nearby villages and the future ski-resort “Bodrost-Kartala” were reconstructed. The municipality has also outlined the project “Sustainable Town Environment,” which entails renovations of streets, creation of parks, installment of decorative lighting and video surveillance. Next year, the town’s drainage will also undergo reconstruction. Education In addition to the recent rehabilitation of nurseries and kindergartens, the municipality has been working on a new program with the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Blagoevgrad has been enrolling back children, who withdrew from school before finishing their obligatory studies. The students are identified and located, using information from the police and border authorities. Approximately 15 children come back to the educational system every month. Health Care Paskalev said that the functioning of the multi-profile Hospital for Active Treatment in town has been an issue for a long time. The procedure for building a new hospital complex in Blagoevgrad is underway. Some of the old buildings will be refurbished, alongside the construction of several new wings. The new complex will include a hospital, a clinic, a ward for mentally ill people, and a rehabilitation building. Social Issues According to the mayor, the municipality has already accomplished its goals for 2008. He said that a canteen providing food for the poor will be open next year, to replace the one-time financial aid. Business A program for assisting the small and medium businesses is being created. Paskalev said that “Struma” highway should increase the business opportunities in town, once it is completed. “After the prime minister was suspended in the cabin lift, we have enormous investment interest [in the ski-resort] from banks,” he added. See Cabin Lift article. http://www.vervemagazine.net/content/view/188/58/ The mayor said that the town should have a clear plan of its development. According to him, after the transition in 2008, when the municipality focused on attracting funds, each following year should be devoted to a particular issue. He named 2009, “Year of the Child.” In 2010, the goal of Blagoevgrad will be “Clean and Green Town”, and 2011 – “Tourist Center.”
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