M u n i c i p a l i t y o f Gračanica
Planned CSC opening January 26, 2010
General Information
The municipality of Gračanica is situated along the main road Tuzla-Doboj, in the lower flow of the river Spreča, at the entrance to Field – Sprečko polje, with altitude of 190 m and covers the area of 219 km2.
The municipality has 61,140 inhabitants, which is 17.56% of the population in Tuzla Canton.
The density of population in the municipality of Gračanica is 250 inhabitants per km2, which is much more than a Canton-210 per km2, and the BiH average, 75 people per km2. The current ethnic composition is: Bosniaks 97,11 %, Serbs 0,56 %, Croats 0.33 % and Others 2%.
Air, gently rolling hills, springs and rivers, flora and fauna, the fertile land - especially in the field - Sprečko polje, traffic in a favorable position, and other amenities are the reasons that the area of Gračanica was inhabited since ancient times.
“In Bosnia there are many Gračanica, but the only one that arose of the medieval royal town of Soko (Falcon)” used to say proud citizens of Gračanica.
Discovered archaeological remains from the Neolithic (in the area of southern exit from Gračanica) evidence that the human habitat existed here in the dawn of history.
The rapid development of the town of Gračanica started under the Austro-Hungarian rule and its connection with other parts of the country through the construction of modern road and railroads. The first railroad station was built in this period on the location of todays farmers association building near the bus station, and the narrow gauge railcar "ćiro", is exhibited there as the symbol of the past time. Between the two world wars, Gračanica was important trade center of the county. After the WWII, the priorities were given to the business and industry development and infrastructure such as the regulation of flow of Sokoluša river and establishment of the factory Partizan producing wheelbarrows(so called japaner).
Nowadays, Gračanica has a powerful giant of food, meat, metal processing and a wide range of products of the small business, certainly based on the rich tradition of crafts-trading.
With three old religious buildings presenting the three main religions situated in circle of less than 300 m in the very center of the town, Gračanica has developed into the town, based on coexistence and tolerance.
Mayor of Gračanica is Mr. Nusret Helic, lawyer by profession. Work commenced in the municipality of Gračanica, first as secretary of the Socio-political Chamber. The two terms was the head of Municipal Services for Urban Planning, construction, housing and utilities and property-legal affairs, and one term as head of the general administration. In two terms he was a member of the Executive Board of the Municipality.
He is a longtime football player and active sport worker.
For the successful operation and management of the municipality received numerous awards.
Municipal Council has 30 councilors. SDP (12), SDA (10), SBiH (3), KSDU-LDS (2), BPS (2), Naša stranka (1).
Speaker of the Municipal Council is Musić Muharem from LDS.
Partnership with USAID-Sida-EKN Governance Accountability Project GAP
The Mayor and GAP Chief of Party signed the Memorandum of Understanding on March 11, 2008.
When the partnership between GAP and the municipality commenced, Gračanica municipal administration was located in the premises of an old Austro-Hungarian building and several very nearby barracks. The old building includes the existing citizen’s service center and some of the buck-up offices, whereas the barracks accommodate municipal employees of the inspections department, urbanism, demobilized soldiers, kitchen and storage.
For the antiquity of the Austro-Hungarian building, its insufficient capacity and for the reasons of its complex reconstruction, historical importance and heritage, the mayor and his associates decided to consider construction of a new municipal building. The old building is as well planned to be reconstructed with support of Austrian Embassy and partially turned it into local town-hall.
The new building foresees creation of modern CSC center, urban permit center, and those buck-up offices that are important to be close to the CSC (30 working stations in total). The offices of heads of departments and mayor office have remained in the old building.
The plan was that the new building will be constructed in two phases. The first phase included designing activity, main civil works for the entire building and final works, furniture and equipment for the CSC with UPC located at the ground-floor. It was not easy for the municipality to accumulate and allocate necessary assets for financing of the first phase, in the amount of 1.5 mil. That is the reason why implementation of the CSC lasted almost two years, but success which will be inaugurated on January 26, 2010 is great. GAP is proud that encouraged, assisted and supported this huge project. GAP mainly provided consulting services, education and IT component in the amount of 210,000 KM.
High-quality service provided by professional, courteous staff that gained new skills, and are equipped with new hardware, upgraded and new software will significantly improve services thus creating a positive image and increased citizens’ satisfaction with municipal responsiveness to their needs. Birth/marriage/death certificates, verification of copies, signature and authorizations, construction and urban permits, business registration permits, fully equipped info desk to provide all information to its customers is from now on available in a new CSC premises with a new dimension of quality.
Also, it is worthy to mention that from March 2007 the municipal administration adopted documentation and quality management system as per standard ISO 9001:2000.
Directions to Gračanica: From Sarajevo, take the road to Tuzla. From Tuzla main junctions (near the power plant) turn right than left towards Lukavac and Doboj. After 40 minutes driving from this junction turn right at the main junction in Gračanica toward the center of the town, where the municipal building is placed. A new CSC is in new premises just behind the old Austro-Hungarian building, in the same yard.
