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Tour of the Municipality :
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Latsia Municipality is situated at a distance of 7 Km (4.34 Miles) to the south of Nicosia, the capital of Cyprus. Established in 1986, it extends to an area of 16,28 sq. Km (6.29 sq. miles) at an average altitude of 190-195 metres (623 - 640 feet) above sea level. Through the municipality flow torrents Drakontias and Kaloyeros, both branches of the river Vathys, which in turn is a confluent of the Pedieos river, one of the largest rivers in Cyprus. The population of Latsia (2003 estimation) exceeds 12.500-13.000 and continues to rise. The advantageous geographic position of the Municipality, in short distance of the large urban centre of Nicosia, and the excellent transportation network, has to a large extent contributed positively to the notable housing and industrial development.
Next to Latsia, but within Strovolos Municipality administrative area, is located the new GSP stadium, Christos-Stelios Ioannou Foundation, the Cyprus Stock Exchange, as well as the under construction new Nicosia General Hospital and the Athalassa Mental Institution. Also next to Latsia, but within Yeri Improvement Board administrative area, is located the Popular Bank Sporting Club.
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Since 1996, Latsia Municipality operates a municipal lending library with a wealth of books, dictionaries, encyclopaedias and other reference books (over 8.000 titles), as well a number of educational video tapes, a VCR and a television, a copy machine, an IBM personal computer and multimedia CD-ROMs. The books are classified according to the Melvil Dewey classification system, i.e. are organised into ten (10) major categories.
There is a small government hospital and a number of private clinics of various specialties, although the population is also served by the Nicosia General Hospital, Archbishop Makarios III hospital and other private clinics and hospitals throughout major Nicosia.
In the ancient, medieval and early 20th century times, Latsia was water supplied by the various and abundant underground springs. The locals built small wells to draw water from the earth, which they called “alakatia”. An alakati, almost extinct today, is the emblem of the Municipality. Up until the late 1990s, Latsia received water from a number of drillings in the Municipality and from the Vasiliko-Pentashoino water conductor. Since the 1 st of October 2001, Latsia is water supplied by the Nicosia Water Board, with water coming partly from desalination from the Larnaca sea area and partly from distillation from Dhipotamos, Kalavasos, Kourris, Lefkara and Yermasoyia dams. Latsia has been designated as “Area 21” of the NWB water management, and the needs of the Municipality in water were covered by 805.720 cubic metres of water (about 28.454.500 cubic feet) in the year 2002.
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For the time being, Latsia is not served by a sewerage system; the connections that will connect the suburb with the Sewerage Treatment Plant in Vathia Gonia, near Ayios Sozomenos village, will be completed by 2007-2008 and Latsia will begin to be served by the new Major Nicosia Sewerage system by the years 2009-2010, when the Treatment Plant will begin to operate. Most houses in Latsia have private sewage holes that must be cleaned every 2-3 years. When Latsia will join the Nicosia Sewerage Board, this problem will no longer persist.
Latsia is a typical example of a new Municipality in Cyprus, exhibiting rapid evolution in every aspect. The first municipal elections took place in 1986, after a positive referendum held on 23 February 1986. The first mayor was Andreas Koukoumas (1986-1991). The second and third elections (1991 and 1996, respectively) declared Christakis Christophides as mayor, while the fourth elections (held on 16 December 2001) declared Costas Efstathiou as the current mayor.
The municipal council consists of 11 members (according to the population figures, as described in the Municipal Law 111/1985), the Mayor and 10 municipal councillors, one of whom is voted alderman. The present deputy mayor (alderman) is Petros Voutouris, while the former deputy mayor was Panayiotis Kyprianou. All members of the council are elected directly by the people of Latsia for a period of five (5) years.
For administrative purposes, Latsia is divided into three quarters: Ayios Yeoryios (covering most of the area of Latsia), Ayios Eleftherios (covering the Ayios Eleftherios refugee housing estate) and Archangelos Michael (covering the homonymous refugee self-housing estate).
The municipality employs 21 employees and 28 workers and has a budget of about £1.378.000 (incoming) and £1.699.000 (expenses) [about €2.350.000 and €2.900.000 or $2.780.000 and $3.425.000, respectively]. It has a municipal library, a philharmonic orchestra and two municipal choirs, one for children and one for adults. The Municipality organises an annual Cultural Festival and also a parade for the celebration of 25th of March 1821, a Greek national day. Since 1999, the municipality operates a summer campsite at the old Agridia Elementary School, a small village located in Limassol District, up on the Troodos area, about 40 Km (25 mi) to the South-West of Nicosia and 22 Km (14 mi) to the North of Limassol. For purposes of administration, there are nine municipal departments:
a). Secretariat (the Municipal Secretary, Mr. Sotiris Messios, being head of all services).
b). Technical Service.
c). Municipal Treasury.
d). Public Health and Cleanliness Department.
e). Water Supply Department (as of 01 October 2001, the Department's purview has been transferred to the Nicosia Water Board).
f). Taxation Department.
g). Parks and Gardens Department.
h). Cultural Department.
i). ÂMunicipal Library.
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