How should the connection of the Hattenhofen sewage to the Mammendorf sewage treatment plant be financed?
About improvement contributions or a fee increase?
This was discussed in the citizens' information event.
And town hall chief Franz Robeller brought a request for advice into play.
Hattenhofen
- The local council agreed on the following on the financing issue: Of the estimated 2.6 to 3 million euros in costs, half should be accounted for through a fee increase, the other half through improvement contributions. In the case of the latter, land or house owners would have to pay a one-off sum after the pressure pipeline was completed. But that caused criticism from the citizenry. Therefore, the information evening was invited. Because only 75 listeners were allowed to enter the Haspelmoor sports center, some of them had to watch the meeting from the terrace.
Inside, Robeller, Richard Furtmeier (treasurer of the Mammendorf administrative association) and the citizens exchanged arguments.
Robeller emphasized at the beginning that he understands that a different division is preferred.
He has less understanding for rumors: It is often said that the connection to Mammendorf is necessary because of the new Haspelmoor-Ost building area.
That is wrong: the sewage treatment plant has been at the limit of its capacity for years.
In addition, the water management office demands that the community no longer discharge the clarified water into the Moosgraben.
Citizens demand fairness in funding
In many requests to speak, citizens made it clear that they consider improvements to be unjust.
If, on the other hand, the project is only financed through wastewater charges, it ensures that “every citizen is treated equally,” said former council member Thomas Waldleitner.
"The price is then the same for everyone."
The exclusive financing via wastewater charges would increase this significantly.
Such a price jump would be difficult to cope with for people with low incomes, the administration said.
Robeller explained that the 50-50 rule was also chosen because the financing of the construction project would not run over the 48-year depreciation period.
The proponents held against it: If the fee was increased, every consumer would pay for the wastewater he produced;
that is fair.
And at the current low interest rates, the community could easily raise the bridging financing for the construction through loans.
It was also mentioned again and again that the recording of the property and floor areas meant administrative expenses - which also had to be paid for.
75 percent of the pressure line has already been laid
Another argument was thought rather around the corner: If the floor areas of the residential buildings are recorded, black buildings in Hattenhofen would come to light, according to one citizen.
That would disturb the peace in the place.
And what if the citizens do not truthfully state their floor space? Asked another citizen.
“One is obliged to answer truthfully.
You mustn't cheat when filing your tax return, ”replied Furtmeier.
Critics of the planned financing of the project had recently raised the possibility of a public petition.
Therefore, Robeller made the advance that the local council could decide to ask the citizens for their opinion.
Then the people of Hattenhofen could choose between the variants themselves.
Robeller: "It cannot be ruled out that there will be a request for a council."
The pressure line to Mammendorf doesn't care how it is paid in the end.
75 percent of it has already been laid.
