When taking stock of the first six months of the administration, the mayor Dr. Enrique Tomás Cresto, refers to the fact that "in this context of changes at the national level, we took the appropriate measures to face this process". He highlights the support of municipal employees, the purchase of machinery with own resources, and the projects that will be launched in conjunction with the Province and the Nation.
Asked about the situation in which he received the municipality, Enrique Cresto says that he received the municipality he expected, just as the technical teams of the previous mayor had informed him at the time. "There was no fixed deadline but neither was there an unpayable debt", he points out. And he explains: "there was a very small consolidated debt, and a floating debt which is the payment chain in some cases delayed by several months. We have been updating that floating debt, it has been paid off and we hope to have the municipality cleared in this aspect by the month of September, and all overdue debts paid".
"But even so", he adds, "by paying that floating debt, getting up to date with creditors, we have also been able to buy machinery", and he lists: "we bought two backhoes, a motor grader, two trucks, a dump truck and a collection - compactor truck, and a skid steer loader. We are in the process of buying more collection trucks, because we want to continue improving the provision of services. And all this has been done with own funds, which is very important", he highlights.
"To do this, several measures had to be taken, for example, we froze the municipal staff for two years, which allows for the optimization of human resources". In this sense, the mayor highlights the good predisposition of the unions to dialogue and "the good predisposition of the municipal staff, who are supporting". Regarding the municipal staff, Cresto points out that it was decided to give priority for entry to the staff to those who have completed secondary school, "with the objective of improving the quality of services and attention, but for this we also offer the possibility that they carry out a BAPA for the completion of their studies. It is part of a comprehensive policy", he maintains.
Joint work with the Province
Continuing with the balance of the first six months of the administration, the mayor highlights the "joint work with the Provincial Government. On different issues. Such as the expropriation of the lands of the Naranjal de Pereda, for the construction of the new Drinking Water Plant for the city, but also on many other issues". Thus he points out, for example, that "in fifteen days the repair and expansion works of the Southern Defense will be starting".
In this sense, Cresto announced that "in the meeting we held with Governor Bordet days ago, we defined holding a joint cabinet meeting, Province and Municipality, in Concordia, in the coming days. Because the Governor wants the different areas of the provincial government to have direct contact with the corresponding areas of the municipality, to advance on many projects. This joint work is fundamental for the continuity of the city's growth", maintains the mayor.
Tourism and Industrial Potential
"Concordia has great potential. To the north there is a tourism potential to be developed, and to the south an industrial potential", maintains Cresto. "From EMCONTUR, the work we are doing with the private sector and with the Salto Grande region is to strengthen and take advantage of all the tourism resources we have. Concordia grew touristically but still has much more to grow. A necessity is the new bus terminal. Concordia needs a new terminal that is up to the level of its tourism growth and that can receive more tourists. That is one of the priorities that must be advanced", he points out.
Policies that generate jobs
Then he refers to the industrial development of the city. "We advanced with the Rural Society in the land exchange for the expansion of the Industrial Park, the objective is for more industries to settle in the city, industries that give added value to the raw material produced here and that generate jobs", he comments.
In this sense, he refers to the "project that we gave to President Mauricio Macri", days ago when the President of the Nation visited the INTA. "Governor Bordet gave me the possibility to hand the project to the president myself", thanks Cresto. The bill drafted by the Mayor's technical teams seeks to "promote the establishment of citrus juice packaging industries at the source", because "it is fine for Coca Cola to buy fruit from our producers, but it would be better for Coca Cola to install itself in the region and for the fruit and juice to be processed here. So, this bill establishes tax exemption rules that benefit companies that settle in the city and generate genuine employment".
Facing difficulties with intelligence
When analyzing the current economic situation of the country, Enrique Cresto does not hesitate to point out that "it is a difficult stage". And he says that "like all Argentines, we are waiting to get out of this transition, and this contraction of the economy. Given this, from the Municipality we are taking all measures with great responsibility, with austerity, with transparency and with foresight. One must be responsible in the policies that are promoted", he maintains.
"It is a moment where we have to face the difficulties that arise with intelligence, we residents of Concordia have experienced many difficulties in these first six months of the year, but we are going to move forward. We are working for that and together we will be able to have a city with more housing, with more work, and with more opportunities for everyone", concluded the mayor.