Municipality of Salt

Infobox Settlement
name = Municipality of Salt
translit_lang1 = Baladiyah Assalt
native_name = بلدية السلط
settlement_type = Municipality
total_type = Greater As-Salt

---

|thumb
area_total_km2 = 72
population_total = 200,400 (2003)
established_date = 1887
seat = Mayor
leader_name = Maher Abu Samen
named_for = The city of Salt
latNS = 32
longEW = 35
elevation_m = 900
elevation_ft = 2,900
elevation_footnotes= [cite web|url=http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0107670.html|title=Jordan:History, Geography, Government, and Culture|accessdate=2008-05-12]
website = http://www.salt.gov.jo/

The Municipality of Salt is a municipality that covers the area in and around Salt, Jordan, convert|28|km|0cite web|url=http://www.salt.gov.jo/en/inside/history/index.htm|title=Salt.Gov.jo - Local Community Multi-Media Information Portal|accessdate=2008-05-11] north-west of Amman.

Etymology

The name "Salt" probably comes from the Latin word "saltus" which means "valley of trees" or "thick forest" as there are many trees in the area. It could have also come from the Saranac "salta" meaning "hard stone".

History

Salt's first municipality was established in 1887. Fayad Afandi Al-Suboh was the appointed the head of the municipality in the same year. At the time, the municipality was responsible for organizing roads and lighting, collecting taxes and tuitions, water sanitation and facilities for both men and women, charging fines, etc. Many of these duties are still carried out today. In 1933 Salt became the first town in Jordan to open a school to all denominations of people. In 1938, the area suffered an earthquake, causing the destruction of many homes and buildings. But the Municipality soon took the lead on reconstruction initiatives. But population of Salt declined 30% between 1922 and 1938. [cite book|title=Old Houses of Jordan|publisher=TURAB 1997] Expansions over time have caused for the Municipality to reconsider it's defined territory, and the list of cities and towns has come to include Al Salt, Rai, Um Juzah, Wadi al Hura, Bazbadiya, Yaraqa, Ibra, Alan, and Rmemeen, many of which were already included, and many of which were new additions.

Government and administrative blocks

Maher Abu Samen is the current president of the Municipality of Salt.cite web|url=http://www.salt.gov.jo/en/inside/About_Manicipality/leaders/index.htm|title=Welcome to Salt.gov.jo website|accessdate=2008-05-12] The administration of Salt is divided into the following categories:

The "Diwan"

The "Diwan" is responsible for managing requests made of the Municipality and keeping record of the tasks carried out by other administrative blocks.

Planning and Organization

Planning and organization division is in charge of communication.

ervices and Engineering Works

Services and Engineering Works maintains roads and buildings. It opens, closes, and builds new roads.

tudies and Development

Studies and Development prepares the designs and studies projects that the city is working on, trains new staff, and studies geographical features of the area.

Financial

The Financial division handles all of the city's financial affairs such as incomes, revenues, expenses, and budgeting.

Environment and Health

Environment and Health division works on improving health care services provided by the municipality. Apart from a medical facility, it manages the control of pests, and surveys public health.

Libraries

The Libraries division handles the municipality's 14,000 volume library.cite web|url=http://www.salt.gov.jo/en/inside/About_Manicipality/institutions/maktabat.htm|title=Libraries|publisher=Municipality of Salt|accessdate=2008-05-12]

Media and Public Relations

All parties, events, and publications put out by the municipality are organized by the Media and Public Relations division. It also supplies reports and other media to local publications and newspapers.

torage

The Storage division handles all spending and organizes data.

Legal

The Legal division is responsible for all legal matters with citizens and manages bills payed by citizens.

ee also

*Municipality of Greater Amman
*Fuheis
*Mahis

References

External links

* [http://www.salt.gov.jo Municipality of Salt government website]