In the end, it was a clear vote: In its most recent meeting, the Irschenberg municipal council unanimously rejected the citizens' application for the new construction of the more than 40-year-old sewage treatment plant.
Irschenberg
– This was preceded by a lengthy lecture by Mayor Klaus Meixner (CSU), who underlined the need for the project.
A project that was estimated at around seven million euros based on figures from 2019 - and these costs are to be passed on to the around 1400 connected citizens.
In front of around 40 people in the gymnasium, Meixner summarized the reasons why the new building was absolutely necessary.
Of course, several variants were also examined - "four at the existing site and the connection to Bruckmühl" - but in the end the existing concept could not be ignored.
The connection to the sewage network of the neighboring community Bruckmühl (Rosenheim district) resulted in costs of over ten million euros because a 6.5-kilometer connection had to be built through the water protection area.
"In addition, there are the easements plus a share of the costs in Bruckmühl," added Meixner.
Disposal fees also apply.
"Economically and structurally this is a catastrophe." In addition, the community would have "no decision-making power" anymore.
Weak receiving water is the central problem
At the previous location, the receiving water is known to be the problem.
The Kropfbach, into which the clarified water is discharged, is too weak for the still slightly polluted water.
Therefore, the cleaning performance must be ramped up.
"We can only do that with the fourth cleaning stage," said the head of the town hall.
Otherwise there is no chance of getting permission from the water management office to discharge the cleaned water.
Meixner did not say how much this fourth cleaning stage alone, which uses activated carbon to filter out the last traces such as drug residues, costs.
The level is currently not mandatory either, but he firmly expects it to become mandatory in Germany, as it is in Switzerland.
All in all, the planning is very good and technically well-founded, which is not only proven by the sponsorship award from the Free State of Bavaria, but also by the research project at the Munich University of Applied Sciences, which wants to measure the development of bacteria in the flow.
As reported, the citizens' application by Werner Freundl, Kathrin Huber and Robert Hofer, on behalf of the around 80 signatories, demands that the municipality stop the current process and obtain further offers.
At least two other concepts are to be commissioned from experienced, independent engineering offices, which will present the possibilities for the renewal of the sewage treatment plant.
Furthermore, possible alternatives for upgrading the sewage treatment plant should also be examined.
"We're one step further"
For the committee, however, these demands were excessive at the present time.
The commissioned engineering office had tendered almost everything, said Meixner: "We're already one step further." What Franz Nirschl (FWG Irschenberg) confirmed: "We've been dealing with the topic for a long time.
We also looked at other systems and I can't imagine that we missed anything." For Hans Maier (FDP/Active Citizens), the fears of the citizens are "understandable, but we also said that we would be careful that the Don't skyrocket costs."
The prognosis by the Irschenberg citizens' initiative, according to which an additional fee of EUR 10,800 could be due per connection, was not discussed at the meeting.
In addition, Meixner defended the expansion of capacity from 5,000 to 7,000 population equivalents: “That is the maximum.
The construction should be a one-time thing for the next 40 years.” And less capacity would only have an insignificant effect on the price, added Marinus Waldschütz (FWG Reichersdorf).
Approval to stop at increased costs
On the other hand, the motion that Florian Kirchberger (FDP/Active Citizens) had tabled at the beginning of the meeting received unanimous approval and was put on the agenda with three dissenting votes.
The motion stipulates that the Irschenbergers will be informed about the previous decision-making process at the next citizens' meeting.
In addition, the process should take a "pause for thought" if the estimated construction costs are more than seven million euros.
Proposals are also to be drawn up for refinancing via fees and contributions.
A rainwater fee should also be an issue.
Finally, the comments on the citizens' application and the statement by planner Dieter Schreff are to be published on the municipality's website.
The council unanimously agreed.
ddy
