Merė R. Vitkauskienė: “It is necessary to talk openly even about uncomfortable topics”

For many years, the community of Miroslava precinct, fed only by nice words, came to the meeting with the leaders of the Alytus district with a long list of unfulfilled promises of the previous government. One by one, the residents asked questions, starting with asphalting and grading of roads, ending with the management of waste, cemeteries, and the establishment of rest areas.

“Significant investments are planned in the Miroslava district in the next few years – in roads, water supply and sewage systems, public spaces, gymnasium. I cannot answer for the words and (in)actions of the previous government. However, I can talk openly with residents even about uncomfortable topics. We discussed all smaller and larger projects and works with the residents. We also heard the community’s problems that people face in their daily lives, and their expectations and suggestions for what is needed to make living here better and safer. I sincerely thank everyone for the discussion and the desire to create, improve, nurture” – said Alytus district mayor Rasa Vitkauskienė after the meeting.

Attention to district roads

The district leaders received the most questions and requests from residents regarding the asphalting of gravel roads. Residents also complained about the previously poorly repaired roads.

Vice Mayor Aurimas Truncė assured that the comments regarding the roads will be evaluated. “We are a circular municipality, we are a large and wide district, we have more than 800 km of unpaved roads, which are in all districts, and all of them need to be allocated funds for road repair. In fact, this is a big challenge for the municipality,” said the vice mayor.

The most important news that the residents of the Miroslavas precinct heard from the mayor’s mouth is that the asphalting of the Mankūnai-Pupasodis-Balkasodis road and the two-kilometer section of the Miroslavas-Laukinčiai-Pošnia road will begin already this year. The remaining two kilometers will be paved over the next few years. The sections of the Vankiškiai-Dapkiškė road and the culvert are planned to be repaired this year. Ongoing road repairs are also planned for the Remeikiai–Obelytė girukė section this year.

It is planned to start designing the roads Luksnėnai–Kurnėnai–Laburdiškės, Miroslavas–Jurgiškiai and Cigoniškiai–Obelninkai this year.

More order and security

Asphalting of the Parėčėnai–Remeikiai, Balkasodis–Plenta, Zizėnai–Dapkiškė roads is planned in the next few years, and the Geištarukai–Miroslavas road is planned to be asphalted in two stages.

“Compared to the previous year, this year we plan to spend almost 8 million more on roads,” said Mayor Rasa Vitkauskienė. In total, it is planned to allocate more than 14 million for the infrastructure of the Alytus district. Eur. Most of them are intended for roads and street infrastructure: asphalting, maintenance, lighting.

Residents also received questions about the central Miroslava sidewalk, which is constantly flooded. “Neither go on foot, nor swim with a boat. We’ve seen it ourselves, it can’t be like that. I think that it will be repaired in the next few years,” joked Vice Mayor Aurimas Truncė, describing the location of the street and sidewalk where water accumulates.

Residents of the old town also inquired about the possibilities of connecting to the water supply and sewage networks. “The development of water management and sewage networks is planned for the entire district, including Miroslava. A special water management plan is currently being prepared”, assured the mayor R. Vitkauskienė.

Significant investments in the gymnasium

Taking care of the safety of the community of the educational institution, the western wall of the three-story school building will be repaired (decorative plaster has bounced, insulation wool has swelled). In addition, it is planned to repair about 1,500 square meters of the building.

During the implementation of the project “Millennium Schools” in Alytus r. Miroslava gymnasium will be equipped with a sports and playground, an outdoor classroom – a dome. It is planned to install an inclined lift for the disabled in the gymnasium, to renovate the 3D classroom. The project funds also provide for the renovation of classrooms: interactive screens, computers, 5-12 kl. purchase of mobile desks and ergonomic chairs for students. There will be various trainings for teachers, internships.

Mothers of students expressed concern about such long-standing problems as food quality and high prices in the canteen of Miroslava Gymnasium.

“Quality nutrition for children is a very important issue. It is already being resolved, and unfortunately, I had to see for myself that the quality of food in the district’s schools is not the best after visiting the canteen of one of the district’s gymnasiums”, the head of the district did not hide.

Managed public spaces

While beautifying the public spaces of the district, so that it is cozy, beautiful and really good to live here, the arrangement of the public space near the Kumečiai pond is also planned. It is planned to build a wooden stage here, where small cultural events could take place, as well as equip benches and trash cans.

The residents of the Miroslava ward, who had gathered in large numbers, asked if there were plans to fix the public transport station in Buckūnai. “Such work is planned for the next few years,” assured Vice Mayor A. Truncė.

Plots near apartment buildings and cemeteries

Among the planned works, the improvement of the lot next to the apartment building is named – by expanding it and laying a new asphalt surface. It is also planned to fix and pave the parking lot next to the cemetery. The mayor gave a short and clear answer to residents’ requests that, for example, a bio-toilet is urgently needed near the houses of the Kumečiai community: “It will be!”.

Corresponding attention is planned to be paid to the cultural heritage of the region – the sculptures of Dainava Park are to be renovated and moved to Kurnėni near the unique Laurynas Radziukyns school, where guests from all over Lithuania and abroad could admire them.