The municipality of Podravski Sesvete celebrated its anniversary with a solemn session of the local council, where the mayor, Marko Derežić, spoke about completed and planned investments, as well as measures being implemented for residents.
Derežić highlighted that it is sometimes difficult to decide which projects to nominate for funding, given that they are co-financed at 70 per cent. He expressed particular gratitude to the government of Andrej Plenković and the relevant ministries for their cooperation.
The municipality is implementing a number of demographic measures. The allowance for the birth of a first child is 535 euros, 1,060.00 euros for a second child, and 2,000 euros for a third and subsequent child. The municipality subsidises attendance at a nursery, funds workbooks for primary school students, and provides boxes with art supplies for first-graders. It also subsidises accommodation for secondary school students in dormitories at 60 euros per student, while stipends for students amount to 150 euros per month. There is also assistance for families purchasing their first property, support for farmers, and subsidies for the microchipping, vaccination, and sterilisation of dogs.
Social benefits include Christmas bonuses, and the 'Zaželi' project is being implemented for the elderly and the infirm. The municipality funds the activities of associations with over 100,000 euros, and a youth council was established this year.
The extension of the Leptirić nursery is currently underway, which will provide space for an additional nursery group, as well as the construction and equipping of a playground with multi-purpose courts and the construction of a pedestrian path on Eugène Tomić Street. A mower for maintaining public areas has been purchased, the 'Igroteka' project for the youngest residents has been implemented, and the spatial plan has been updated.
By the end of the year, the renovation of the Šarje landfill, the equipping and landscaping of the children's playground, and the equipping of the Leptirići nursery will be completed, and lighting will be installed on three sports courts. A 5,000-litre tank will be purchased for the municipal works department.
The planned works include the reconstruction and extension of the school building with a sports hall, the renovation, energy upgrade, and extension of the community centre in Mekeš, the renovation and equipping of a football pitch, the construction of housing for young families, the development of green infrastructure focused on the renovation of streets, and the design of a sewage system for Mekeš and Donje Dragance.
During the solemn session, the municipality's gold plaques were awarded to the Podravski Sesvete Volunteer Fire Brigade on the occasion of its 100th anniversary, the Hrvatsko folklorno društvo Sesvečica on the occasion of its 90th anniversary, and the Podravski Sesvete Sports Club on the occasion of its 20th anniversary.
