Bayrischzell's ramshackle alpine swimming pool has become too expensive.
The citizens now decide what happens to the bathroom: petition for a referendum, petition for a council or closure?
Bayrischzell
- When the Bayrischzell population votes on the future of their Alpine swimming pool in the next two weeks, they will make a groundbreaking decision for the future of their community.
The referendum, initiated in July by the local council and mayor Georg Kittenrainer (CSU) with a request for a council, brought the bathroom the explosiveness that Kittenrainer actually wanted to avoid.
For the Bayrischzeller it is now about more than just the water surface in the center of the village.
The count on Sunday, November 29th, will probably also determine affordable housing and investments over the decades.
The history
Originally, Kittenrainer wanted to question the citizens in order to maintain the unity of the community.
The ailing alpine open-air swimming pool devours a huge amount every year, and renovation will cost millions.
Kittenrainer and the local council only wanted to spend that much money with the consent of the citizens.
They also did not want to decide on the alternative, closing the bathroom, alone.
The council motion should guarantee that the community is going in the direction that the majority supports.
At least before the vote, the citizens' survey tended to cause disagreement.
Alexander Jonscher, Robert Mörtl and Barbara Wittmann submitted a competing petition that was hotly debated in the city council and at the regulars' tables (we reported).
The result: rumors and accusations in all directions.
The options
The difference between petitions for a council and petitions for citizens is in the details, but it has far-reaching consequences: petitions for citizens and councils both want to keep the bathroom.
The referendum demands this "to the current extent" and without the sale of the property.
The council request keeps these options open.
It only asks whether Bayrischzell should continue to operate a heated outdoor pool.
If the request for a council wins, a smaller pool in the same place or a move to the Seeberg would also be possible.
For kitten trainers, the move is the ultimate solution: Then the community at the current location could create affordable living space for locals, he advertises.
It is disputed whether the present renovation concept of the outdoor pool could also be implemented with the referendum.
The 2.1 million euro plan presented in the municipal council (we reported) is also popular with supporters of the citizens' initiative, but wants to reduce the swimming area by a third.
According to his legal understanding, this is impossible with a request that requires preservation in the current scope, says Kittenrainer.
If the referendum wins, he expects a significantly more expensive renovation.
The initiators contradict both points: They consider the complete renovation for around 700,000 euros possible.
At the same time, they argue in a leaflet that the pool could be maintained in its current size if the community downsized the pool.
As long as she completely preserves the property, that is sufficient for the citizens' initiative.
The vote
Until Sunday, November 29th, around 1400 eligible voters from Bayrischzeller can vote on which arguments convince them.
Almost all of you should do this by postal vote because of Corona, believes Josef Acher, manager of the town hall.
They have already received the postal voting documents.
If you want to vote personally, you can do so on November 29th from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the town hall.
If the majority of the Bayrischzeller agree with no to both requests, neither will be implemented.
Then the outdoor pool remains closed.
The municipality is too expensive to run the ailing facility.
In this case, too, the community could create affordable living space on the property, but would save itself having to move the pool to the Seeberg.
If a request prevails, it is binding for the municipal council for one year.
Important for the vote: Because the Bayrischzeller can support both requests, the community also asked a key question.
With this, voters, who answer both questions in the affirmative, choose which option they prefer.
You will find out the result of the vote on November 29th.
At around 7 p.m., Acher believes, the future of the Alpine swimming pool will be clear.
The opinions of the initiators
For the referendum: Alexander Jonscher, co-initiator: Keep the attraction for the summer
Attention Bayrischzeller, now we have the chance to do good for the community and the environment: The alpine warm outdoor pool in its current location makes Bayrischzell attractive - let's keep it!
Invest now in a socially responsible manner and stop wasting taxpayers money.
Our pool is a sports and meeting place in the green heart of Bayrischzell - in a sunny, sheltered location, accessible to everyone: an alternative location.
Let's think holistically for the village: sustainable development for happy citizens is the future.
Swimming is an inexpensive spa and leisure offer for everyone.
It is part of social services of general interest.
It makes summer tourism attractive!
Guests complain about the distance to the nearest lake and often decide against Bayrischzell.
Since winter tourism only seems to be secured in the medium term by enormous expenditures, it is all the more vital to maintain and expand the attractions for the summer.
In the light of this development, which is understandable for everyone, the closure of the outdoor pool appears like a suicide attempt.
The swimming pool is of systemic importance: swimming is part of promoting sport and health for the entire population.
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Alexander Jonscher (left) and Barbara Wittmann: Two of the three with the initiator of the citizens' initiative
© Thomas Plettenberg
Our swimming pool represents an important, traditional cultural asset.
Opened by Bayrischzellern in the summer of 1928, successively expanded, modernized in 1957, it is one of the most beautiful Alpine baths.
Almost 100 years!
There are several options for state funding for a renovation, but not for a new building.
In various renovation proposals it was found that closure and new construction are superfluous.
A sustainable renovation, also with pool reduction, will be affordable for Bayrischzell in the long term.
Housing for locals?
Who will benefit?
The swimming pool is an advertisement for the whole place.
An investment in summer tourism brings income to the town across the board and secures the entire infrastructure.
Remember: what's gone is gone.
For the request for advice: Georg Kittenrainer, Mayor: For swimming pools and affordable housing
The topic of the warm outdoor pool stirs the minds of the place.
From the beginning it was my idea to let the citizens vote on the future of the bathroom themselves.
It is therefore important to clearly state the consequences of the vote.
If the request for a council is yes, we will look for solutions to operate a warm outdoor pool in Bayrischzell on a permanent basis.
For this purpose, either a new swimming pool is to be built on the Seeberg or the existing pool is to be rebuilt in a smaller form.
In both cases, parts of the current swimming pool area could be sold for refinancing.
The areas would then be sold preferentially to locals and families at affordable prices.
Should the voters decide against the swimming pool, the areas would also be used for affordable living space.
It can be stated that every operation of the swimming pool (regardless of whether due to a request for a council or a petition by citizens) will in future charge the municipality of Bayrischzell with around 200,000 euros per year.
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Georg Kittenrainer
© Thomas Plettenberg
The referendum demands the maintenance of the swimming pool in its current size - also with the same pool size.
This pool renewal would cost well over three million.
The community cannot finance that.
If you vote in favor of the referendum, you will only have the option of continuing to operate the swimming pool as it is.
The remaining term is likely to be very limited.
I ask citizens to give their opinion on the question asked in the council request and to vote no in any case in the petition for citizens.
It is just as important to tick the council request in the key question.
The referendum was launched without speaking to community representatives once.
It is supposed to force the community to act according to a redevelopment concept which the initiators themselves have already recognized as no longer feasible.
Since no serious financing proposals were made, a yes to the petition would mean the end of our swimming pool in the medium term.
Tourist Info Manager Hintermayr: Alpine outdoor pool "not that important" for guests
What Stephanie Hintermayr found out about the importance of the Alpine outdoor swimming pool for tourism sheds new light on some of the arguments about its future.
As the director of the Bayrischzell Tourist Information Office, Hintermayr wants great offers for visitors: “A swimming pool is a great offer.” In her private life, too, she appreciates the bathroom as an oasis of relaxation for herself, her family and the Bavarians.
Nonetheless, she says: “The alpine open-air swimming pool is not that crucial for tourism.” Hintermayr did some research.
She didn't want to base her opinion on hearsay or subjective impressions.
She wanted reliable numbers.
How many holidaymakers visit the pool each year with a guest card?
How many use other offers with their guest card?
Which offers offer tourism the best value for money?
The results, she says, are clear.
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Stephanie Hintermayr (center) and the participants in a guided tour through Bayrischzell
© Christian Masengarb
The most important number: every year, around ten percent of the entrances to the alpine outdoor pool go to vacationers.
Even in the super summer of 2018 there were only around 1100 visitors.
Including some that came several times and some with guest cards from other municipalities.
Hintermayr's conclusion: "There are only a few hundred Bayrischzell guests a year who use the swimming pool." Of almost 200,000 who come to Bayrischzell.
Spend on those millions?
From their point of view, not an optimal investment.
For comparison: The Wendelsteinring line is used by around 3500 guests annually.
Public transport, playgrounds, hiking trails - "obviously, such offers are more important for tourism than the outdoor swimming pool."
Hintermayr therefore has a clear opinion about the vote at the end of November: “The council request is the better, affordable alternative.
It will have a swimming pool, but will keep an eye on the costs. ”If Bayrischzell puts millions into the open-air pool, it will not be able to carry out other projects that are more important for tourism and citizens for years to come.
“You cannot gloss over it.
It hurts when we can no longer afford such a beautiful bathroom.
But we mustn't block the future. "
