Prosperous community in the spotlights

Peter Köstler routinely completed his first citizens' meeting as Mayor of Graefelfing on Thursday.

In front of 50 visitors he gave a comprehensive report, backed up with figures and pictures, of the many fields of activity of a prosperous community.

Graefelfing -

Not only District Administrator and fellow citizen Christoph Göbel began his welcoming address with Corona, but also Mayor Peter Köstler.

The pandemic, because of which the Citizens' Collection 2020 had to be canceled at short notice, was a challenging time, which nonetheless “did not hinder” the work in the municipal council and administration.

With examples from companies that have recently or again decided in favor of Graefelfing as their location, Köstler talked about the good finances of the community.

185 million euros in business tax income in 2020, 260 million euros in the general reserve - that is a "very positive" development, but one that also entails a great deal of responsibility.

At the same time, Köstler thanked the citizens for 15 million euros from income tax, which together with trade tax formed “the two pillars of our options”. The list of projects, some with double-digit million sums, ranged from the swimming and three-field sports hall, for which the groundbreaking recently took place, to the planned construction work on the Rudolf and Maria Gunst House, the renovation of the town house and the construction plans for a residential and commercial building in Bahnhofstrasse 105 to the planned noise protection in the course of the renovation of the motorway tunnel. The only thing missing at Jahnplatz is an implementation contract with the owner of the post office property. Peter Köstler: "From the community side, nothing stands in the way of implementation."

According to the mayor, the new kindergarten Spatzennest will be ready for occupancy during the Christmas holidays. He also mentioned the north wing of the elementary school, which is being renovated for the Kurt-Huber-Gymnasium and which will house the new heating center for the school campus in an extension. The town hall renovation is ongoing, a planned extension could enable 18 additional jobs that are urgently needed.

In the question and answer session, a woman from Countess found the situation on Rathausplatz “very terrible”;

she missed a safe pedestrian crossing by the shortest route.

Mayor Köstler referred to the two crosswalks that would be applied next week.

Another visitor perceived the planned enlargement of the community center tower in the course of the renovation and the planned new building opposite as a "disfigurement of the community".

Mayor Köstler said this was a change wanted by the local council, "even if not everyone may like it".

The new building adapts to the neighboring building.

In addition, Peter Köstler expressly committed himself to the construction of housing in Graefelfing - also on the former Doemens property.