Maksim Dimitrievski announced that infrastructure projects financed through the so-called Hungarian loan are being implemented intensively across Kumanovo.
Work is also continuing on the reconstruction and activation of the city’s sports hall, a project financed through the government support program.
According to Dimitrievski, the heating and cooling phase of the Sports Hall reconstruction is currently in progress and is already more than 50 percent complete.
“Regarding the heating and cooling phase in the sports hall, the procedure is ongoing and more than 50 percent has already been completed. This is in line with the application related to the funds from the Hungarian loan and the landscaping works,” Dimitrievski said.
He emphasized that the reconstruction is a major project that cannot be completed within a single year, but stressed that the local government’s goal is to fully put the facility into operation.
“This is a large project that cannot be completed in one year, but together with the Council our goal is to fully activate this facility,” the mayor said.
Dimitrievski added that once the reconstruction is completed, maintaining the sports hall will become the next major challenge.
“The second and more difficult issue will be how to maintain the facility. Such sports complexes are very expensive to maintain because of the operational costs they generate,” he noted.
Speaking about the projects financed through the government program and the Hungarian loan, Dimitrievski said around 30 infrastructure projects are planned throughout the city.
“More than 50 percent of all applications, which cover around 30 infrastructure projects, have already entered the implementation phase, while half of them are already under construction,” he stated.
He explained that some projects will begin after additional funds are secured through the state budget rebalance in order to avoid putting contractors into financial difficulties.
“We are carefully monitoring the process so we do not place construction companies in a financial vacuum where they would have to wait a long time for compensation for completed work,” Dimitrievski said.
The mayor assessed that the pace of work on the ground is satisfactory and that the active projects are progressing with solid intensity.
He added that Kumanovo this year has a strong development component in its budget with around 30 projects and announced efforts to secure even larger investments next year.
“Kumanovo has a development-oriented budget. This year we have around 30 projects and I believe all of them will be realized, while we will try to secure even more funding next year for even greater development and construction expansion,” Dimitrievski emphasized.
At the same time, he appealed to citizens to regularly pay taxes and utility obligations, stressing that these funds are essential for new investments and municipal development.
“If you do not pay taxes, you cannot expect investments. If you do not pay utility fees and build illegally, you cannot expect future investments. Only together can we build Kumanovo into a cleaner and better place to live,” the mayor said.