There was no mood of jubilation after the vote in the altenkunstadt municipal council, but rather the nuchterne realization that one should not praise the day before the evening. Altenkunstadt has voted 12 to four in favor of the construction of an instructional swimming pool on the school and sports grounds in the altenkunstadt suburb of rohrig. But whether burgkunstadt and, above all, weismain, with its high mountain of debt, will also follow suit is still up in the air.
In this spirit, mayor robert hummer (CSU) stated: "we can’t shout hurrah yet, because there are still many things to do." However, the people of altenkunstadt accommodated the two neighboring communities in their decision: in contrast to the construction costs, in which all three towns are to share, the decision provides for altenkunstadt to shoulder the maintenance costs alone. "Burgkunstadt already bears the deficit for its outdoor pool. Weismain, on the other hand, with its strained budget situation, may not participate in any maintenance due to the stabilization aid granted by the free state", hummer welcomes the meeting.
As far as construction is concerned, the speaker was confident that weismain would also join in alongside burgkunstadt: "if we all want it, then we will build it together." "There must not be any altenkunstadt solo effort in the construction", emphasized stephanie dittrich (bundnisgrune). "Because only three of us are stronger", agreed melita braun (CSU). In this sense, the resolution is also written, in which it literally says: "the construction of an instructional swimming pool at the altenkunstadt middle school site is approved subject to the participation of the city and municipalities."
What is the cost situation? The concept of the association for municipal cooperation, which is available as a brochure, provides for investments of 4.2 million euros, while the estimated cost is 3.1 million euros. The three neighboring municipalities still had to raise 1.1 million euro. Taking into account the prospective subsidies from the district of lichtenfels of one percent of the district levy, which would correspond to about 600,000 euros, the municipality of altenkunstadt and the cities of burgkunstadt and weismain would have investment costs of about 500,000 euros. In order to benefit from the claim funds, the municipal administration was instructed to submit claim applications to the district of lichtenfels and to the state of bavaria in accordance with the financial equalization law.
In addition, contractual negotiations are to be conducted with the DLRG burgkunstadt regarding the operation of the training pool. A term of 15 years is planned for the contract. The DLRG had already successfully operated the no longer existing training pool in burgkunstadt from 2005 to 2010. "Despite enormously high costs as an association, we achieved an annual plus of five to 10,000 euros, explained chairman werner schneider of the DLRG. The speaker was confident that the new pool would not result in a deficit either. For swimming lessons alone, the expert calculated revenues of 96,000 euros at an hourly rate of 69 euros, 36 school weeks and six to eight swimming lessons per weekday. "The primary and secondary school in mainleus, which also held its swimming lessons in the new pool, is not included in my calculation", employees. Other revenue streams included swimming lessons for babies, toddlers, migrants and adults, as well as handicap swimming and diving groups. Mayor robert hummer listed other sources of income for financing the maintenance, ranging from the founding of a claims association to the sale of annual passes and the allocation of a name (for example, kathi-baur-bad) to donations and sponsoring activities. An important condition for the state to be able to require the pool is the number of classes, which must be 105. The last calculation showed 104 classes in the schools of the three municipalities. Hummer announced that this had now been exceeded: "in the elementary school, we will have three classes in grade 1 in the new school year instead of the previous two. The middle school also has a new class. In addition, the number of sports classes at the burgkunstadt high school will increase in the medium term, thanks to the introduction of the nine-year high school program." Hummer had also pointed out that there was also the altenkunstadt water rescue service, which could participate in supervision at the new pool.
Astrid redinger, a member of the chamber of commerce, issued a warning: "if the municipal council decides to build and operate an instructional swimming pool, it must be aware that this will restrict the municipality’s financial room for maneuver and take away financial reserves to compensate for possible tax shortfalls or unforeseen additional expenditure." This was water on the mills of frank novotny from the social burgers (SB) as well as norbert schnapp, walter and michael limmer from the young voters union (JWU), who were critical of the project. Walter limmer pointed out the many obligatory tasks, such as wastewater disposal, educational institutions or water supply, that the municipality has to shoulder. He recalled that the middle school is already very old. "But no thought has yet been given to a possible renovation", stressed the speaker. "Clearly, an instructional swimming pool is a voluntary service", brown agreed with him, but in the same breath made it clear: "we are not building a spa." Limmer also pointed out that the elementary school classes of the three municipalities have been receiving swimming lessons in the michelau indoor pool again since this school year. "After seven years of no swimming lessons, we were able to achieve that, demanded by the ministry of health and supported by the AOK bavaria, swimming lessons take place again", schneider confirmed limmer’s statement. At the same time, the expert pointed out that there are only six hours of swimming lessons per year and per class: "it cannot be guaranteed that the little ones will learn to swim within six hours." "We create a lighthouse project. But we also have to be able to afford it", novotny gave the following reasons for concern. Ludwig winkler of the free burghers of the districts (FBO) has declared himself to be in favor of a pool. He attached great importance to the fact that the pool must also be open to the public. Should the foundation of joint municipal utilities ever come about, then the open-air swimming pool in burgkunstadt and a possible teaching pool should be taken over by these utilities. An impassioned plea for a bathroom was made by thorsten J. Schmidtke of the young burgers: "we must have visions. Even former district administrator reinhard leutner was once ridiculed for his idea of a thermal spa."
