The report on the work of the Mayor was adopted today at the session of the Municipal Assembly (MA) of Bijelo Polje with 19 votes in favor and 6 against.
The session, which lasted almost ten hours, began today with a delay of almost an hour and a half, after opposition representatives left the session, before voting on the amendment to the agenda - the Report on the Work of the Mayor, which meant that the ruling coalition did not have the necessary majority of 19 councilors.
One councilor from the Bosniak Party (BS) was missing from the vote, and due to his absence, the amendment to the agenda could not be voted on. As Marko Đukić from the Democrats said, by leaving the session, the opposition councilors called into question the legitimacy of the government in Bijelo Polje itself.
However, in the meantime, the Bosniak Party councilor Fuad Kolić arrived at the session, so the session, to which the opposition councilors also returned, continued. The discussion on the report on the work of the President of the Municipality of Bijelo Polje and the bodies and services of the local government for 2024 lasted for more than eight hours. While the opposition councilors criticized the report, their colleagues from the ruling coalition had only words of praise. When it comes to the development of infrastructure, the President of the Municipality Petar Smolović stated in the report that we are all witnesses of multi-million investments that have qualitatively changed the face of that city and made it in every sense a more urban and functional place to live.
"We have adopted a new four-year Strategic Development Plan for the Municipality of Bijelo Polje for the period 2022 to 2026, which sublimates projects to improve the quality of life of citizens by using available resources in a sustainable manner. This document plans to invest 117,8 million euros in the development of Bijelo Polje through 155 projects.
"Very significant funds have been invested in the development of sports clubs, domestic and international widely recognized cultural events, in business zones with already open factories, but also in numerous initiated and planned projects. All this together proves that we have strived to strongly develop the overall social environment and life in all its segments and at all levels. We will complete the work started on numerous projects in a way that will breathe into Bijelo Polje the kind of life on the tourist map of Europe, which will better build the standard of all our individuals and families, regardless of whether they are directly involved in the tourism industry or not," said Smolović.
He pointed out that the Municipality of Bijelo Polje, with the support of the Government of Montenegro, which has been significantly absent in the previous four years, is implementing strategic projects of national importance: Đalovića Cave, Bjelasica Ski Center, and the Project for the Construction of a Collector with a Wastewater Treatment Plant.
"It was planned that all contracted works on the capital projects of Đalovića Cave and Bjelasica Ski Center would be completed by the end of 2023, however, due to inadequate support from the Government of Montenegro in the previous period, the deadline for completion of the works, unfortunately, was not met.
The capital projects of Đalovića Cave and Bjelasica Ski Center are financed by the Government of Montenegro, and the activities on the implementation of the projects are carried out by the Capital Projects Administration of Montenegro.
During 2024, there was no continuation of work on the capital projects Đalovića Cave and Bjelasica Ski Center.
"All obligations that the Municipality of Bijelo Polje had regarding the implementation of both of these projects have been completed," he said, adding that they expect work to continue this year on the cable car for Đalovića Cave, whose value is estimated at approximately 4 million euros.
For the needs of the cable car, he emphasized, a tender procedure is underway for the construction of a power line and an access road, with a total value of 629.200 euros.
"At the same time, work is underway on the project documentation for resolving the water supply of the cave, while work on the water supply in Bistrica, from the Banjica spring to Ušanovići, is nearing completion. This water supply, 6 kilometers long, is worth 910.000 euros, and will also supply water to the visitor center for the needs of Đalovići Cave."
All these works and projects – from asphalting the road and valorization of the Đalovića Cave, to the planned construction of a cable car, are part of a long-standing vision that is now on the verge of realization and will give a new dimension of prosperity to all citizens of Bijelo Polje.
"Businessmen also believe in the potential of the Bistrica region, so the first hotel, equipped to modern standards, was opened in Bistrica," Smolović said in the report.
Along with the Đalovića Cave, as Smolović further states, the valorization of the Bjelasica Mountain and the construction of the Ski Center represent the second major capital project for the development of tourism in Bijelo Polje. "Work on this project has been stagnant for almost four years, and tenders are currently underway for the construction of the Jasikovac - Cmiljača road, with a total length of 10,5 kilometers, with an estimated value of 17 million euros. The tender procedure for the construction of the power line from Ribarevina to Cmiljača, worth 1,6 million euros, is also underway," said Smolović.
Project Construction of a collector with a wastewater treatment plant Last year, an international tender was announced for the WWTP project in Bijelo Polje, based on the "design-build" system.
As for other major investment projects, Smolović reminded that work has begun on the implementation of the Lim Regulation Project on the left bank in the urban area from the city bridge in Nikoljac to the pedestrian bridge in the Loznice settlement, which is being formed. The project is financed in cooperation with the World Bank, from grants from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF). The preparation of project documentation and the expropriation study were carried out by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
"During 2024, works worth 1.830.000,00 euros were carried out. By implementing this multi-million project, through the construction of a coastal fortification and a promenade next to the Lim, we will solve the decades-old problem of flooding, preserve the watercourse, land and buildings, and at the same time we will obtain a modern ambient unit that, with its access to the Lim River, will completely transform the appearance of Bijelo Polje.
Works on the reconstruction of the local road Gubavač - Bistrica have continued, the investor is the Capital Projects Administration of Montenegro, and in 2024, works worth 850.000,00 euros were completed.
The Transport Administration of Montenegro is investing in the reconstruction of the M2 Lepenac-Ribarevine-Poda-Berane highway. The estimated value of the total works for this investment is 36.000.000 euros. In 2024, works worth 14.500.000,00 euros were carried out. The works are ongoing.
"Also, the Transport Administration of Montenegro is the investor for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the M-21 main road from Barski Most to Dobrakovo with the rehabilitation of the landslide in Dobrakovo, and during 2024, works worth 4.200.000,00 euros were carried out on this road," said the president, noting that with the completion of these projects, Bijelo Polje will gain a transport network that not only makes it easier to get to the city, but also contributes to economic development, strengthening tourism and better connections with villages and regions in the surrounding area.
A key step towards that development, the first man of the Municipality pointed out, is the construction of the "Boljanina" interchange - as a connection between Bijelo Polje and the highway.
"The Spatial Urban Plan of Bijelo Polje and Montenegro, as well as the Preliminary Design of the Highway, planned another interchange - a highway connection with Bijelo Polje at the approximate location of Zminac - Boljanina, which would be approximately 7 km from the Bypass and the city center, in addition to the interchange in Crnča, which is 20-25 km from the city center. Upon learning that during the preparation of the Preliminary and then the Main Design of the Highway, the Commission for the Review of that project questioned this solution for reasons of economy, and left the only connection of Bijelo Polje with the highway as the interchange in Crnča, 20-25 km from the city center, we initiated a meeting with the Minister of Transport, the Director of Monteput, with the presence of all 9 members of the state parliament from Bijelo Polje, at which an agreement was reached that this interchange would be built, so that Bijelo Polje and its economy would survive and develop, especially because of the capital project of Djalovića Caves which is 4 km away from the aforementioned interchange, while it would be 42 km away from the Crnča interchange.
The only dilemma that remains is whether the access road will go along the left or right side of the Boljanska River, with a calculated traffic speed of 60 or 80 km/h, and be 8 or 8.5 km long. The interchange itself is not expensive and costs between 3 and 4 million euros, but the access road is much more expensive, which will cost between 20 and 30 million euros, depending on the selected route. The Crnča interchange still remains, and it is planned to connect the expressway to Pljevlja to it.
At the same meeting, it was agreed to form an expert team, with the participation of the Municipality of Bijelo Polje, which will attend meetings in Monteput during the design of this interchange and possible connecting roads," said Smolović. In the area of local infrastructure, during 2024, the asphalt pavement on municipal roads was repaired in the amount of 820.091,17 euros, financed by the Capital Projects Administration.
Also, in 2024, a contract was concluded for the repair of asphalt pavement on municipal roads worth 420.000,00 euros, financed by the Municipality of Bijelo Polje and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management. Due to unfavorable weather conditions, these works have not started and will be carried out in 2025," he said.
The municipality, Smolović further stated, has devoted significant attention to the rehabilitation of landslides, the problem of the Pavića stream overflow has been resolved (invested 84.000 euros), the sewage system in Rasovo and the water supply network in Rakonje and Lipnica have been reconstructed, in the amount of 80.000 euros, sidewalks have been built or are being built in Tomaševo, Rakonje and Loznice (invested 45.000 euros), there is also the construction of sidewalks and lighting in Zaton, 6 km long, as well as on the stretch from Srđevac to Bioč, 3,5 km long, which represents a significant step forward in improving pedestrian safety in these areas.
The President also mentioned that in the reporting period, the roof of the old mayor's office building in Bjelo Polje, where families in social need reside, was reconstructed (51.546,09 euros spent), the facade of the Municipality building was reconstructed (103.000 euros), air purification filters were installed in several institutions, while 59 filters were distributed to kindergartens.
"Work on the construction of a temporary shelter for dogs has been completed, which has 33 cages and accompanying facilities. By putting it into operation, we will solve the major problem of stray dogs," he said, also citing investments in the areas of social policy, education, health, sports and culture.
"We planned the Municipality's budget for 2025 in the amount of 25.471.000,00 euros (receipts were allocated to current budget spending in the amount of €13.768.900,00, debt repayment in the amount of €4.142.000,00 and the capital budget in the amount of €7.560.100,00)," he concluded.
The opposition councilors pointed out that during the debate, at certain moments it was not clear whether this was a session of the local parliament or the state parliament, because instead of discussing the Report on the Work of the Mayor of the Municipality, part of the controversy referred to the work of the state parliament, and the former DF councilor Vaso Obradović pointed out numerous problems and poor road infrastructure and warned that it was unacceptable for the local parliament to count the pancakes eaten in Podgorica restaurants and the fuel consumed "while we remain silent about millions and trucks."
Radosav Bajčeta from the Democrats criticized the president's report, particularly emphasizing the problem of decades of neglect of the Vraneška Valley, where the only project the Municipality is carrying out is the construction of a sidewalk near the school, which is why, as he said, it is no wonder that not a single first-year student will be enrolled in the school in the Vraneška Valley next year.
The report was also criticized by Marko Ljujić from the Democrats, who, like other opposition councilors, believes that the road infrastructure is in poor condition, especially in the inner city, and that the situation is no better in rural areas.
"There is no proper water supply in rural areas, road infrastructure is in a catastrophic state, there is no internet, and healthcare is inaccessible to a large number of the population," Ljujić emphasized.
He praised the organization of the "Athletics Day in Bijelo Polje", which, as he pointed out, showed that there is potential for the development of athletics in that municipality.
Petrić: The Bosniak Party has no better candidate than Petar Smolović
Europe Now Movement councilor Dražen Petrić said that PES will also vote against the Report on the work of the Mayor Petar Smolović, primarily because he is a man without a political vision, who has done nothing worth mentioning in the 8 years he has been at the head of the Municipality, except for numerous promises, of which there have been many. "And very little has been realized and we believe that he is the most responsible for that. Also, he is a man completely distanced from the lives of ordinary citizens, which is evident from the fact that he is surrounded on all occasions primarily by his closest associates with whom he tours the city, which he remembered after eight years in power," said Petrić.
He also referred to the Bosniak Party, which, according to state-level agreements, was supposed to break up the coalition in Bijelo Polje, pointing out that it had shown that it was a party without a stance or principles, since they initially requested that the work report not be considered at all, and then that it be considered, without providing a coherent explanation for either.
"The same thing happened at the nine-hour session during which we could not hear the voices of the councilors from their party, and in the end they supported the report. I remind the citizens that after the local elections, we offered their local council the position of mayor in order to form a government together with the parties with which they are now partners at the state level, which they did not accept, and which they do not want to consider now. Their strong support for Petar Smolović shows that the Bosniak Party has no better candidate for that position than him," said Petrić.
At the marathon session, in addition to the report on the work of the president, the Report on the Work of the Municipal Assembly was also adopted.
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