Status: 25.11.2023, 17:00 PM
By: Bernhard Jepsen
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Wiltrud Günther, Helmut Schindler and Herbert Klein were honoured for their "extraordinary, voluntary commitment", as it was said in the certificates, at the citizens' assembly. Günther coordinated the Bernried holiday programme for ten years. For this, the primary school teacher was presented with the golden Hofmark medal. The same award was given to Herbert Klein, who, as chairman of the association, has rendered outstanding services to the renovation of the parish church of St. Martin. "St. Martin simply belongs to Bernried – no matter how you feel about the church," Klein explained at the award ceremony: "It was worth it that we went down this path with the association 13 years ago." Helmut Schindler, who has been working as an altar boy for 50 years, was also honoured in his absence due to illness. In his laudatory speech, Mayor Georg Malterer characterized Schindler as a "caretaker": "He carries his enthusiasm out into the village." Schindler is now the recipient of the Silver Citizen's Medal. © Jespen
Bernried - Although Bernried is a rather small community with its almost 2,500 inhabitants, the town is developing an enormous creative power. This could also be seen at the most recent citizens' meeting. For more than two hours, the approximately 100 visitors were informed about current and future projects.
The expansion of the summer cellar into a cultural and event centre is one of the major projects in Bernried that will soon be completed. Only the sound and lighting technology has not yet been installed. Initially, this circumstance also had an impact on the citizens' assembly that took place in the historic cellar vault. The head of the town hall, Georg Malterer, was difficult to understand about the mobile microsystem, so he simply omitted it. And lo and behold: Despite a slight cold and a raspy voice, Malterer could be heard without sound technology. The summer cellar has good acoustics even without technical aids. This has already been shown at various cabaret and concert events. "The use has gotten off to a really good start," Malterer reported.
With a multi-million dollar project such as the renovation of the summer cellar, some municipalities would already be overwhelmed. But in Bernried it is "only" one among many. Malterer spoke at length about the development of the town at the citizens' meeting. And the mayor repeatedly referred to the "Integrated Urban Development Concept", which was drawn up several years ago with citizen participation. While the ISEK ends up in a drawer in other municipalities and is more or less only designed to formally meet the subsidy criteria of urban development funding, in Bernried it serves as a "master plan" that is gradually being put into practice. Even the newly founded municipal company is already anchored in it. Among other things, the KU takes care of the operation of the summer cellar and the use of the monastery. "If you have a municipal company," Malterer explained, "you can find a lot that you can do with it." The head of the town hall was alluding to the assumption of further services related to municipal tasks. According to Malterer, the basic ideas of the ISEK would also be incorporated into the planned update of the land use plan. The urban development is to be controlled in a targeted manner: "We want to approach it in terms of planning and leave nothing to uncontrolled growth," says Malterer.
How the plans in Bernried are intertwined is also illustrated by the purchase of the monastery. The original idea of relocating the primary school from Binselberg to the east wing of the monastery was abandoned for financial and conceptual reasons (Malterer: "A mix of uses with educational centre and school? We thought that there might be better alternatives"). However, for the primary school, which is experiencing increasing numbers of pupils and is currently run with five classes, there could be expansion areas at the existing location in the medium to long term. Namely, when the fire station and the kindergarten are relocated from the bridleway. As a possible location for the daycare center, Malterer mentioned in the citizens' assembly the parking lot at the crèche, which is housed in a monastery outbuilding (garden hall).
Another major project that Bernried has in the pipeline is the third construction phase for the community center. But nothing is fixed yet. As is well known, there are considerations to give the "Forum Humor" a home. In addition, a funding commitment of 5.6 million euros has already been made. "We don't want it to be a slapstick museum," Malterer emphasized. First, however, "concrete ideas" are needed about how the operating concept could be designed. A specialist office has been commissioned for this purpose. According to Malterer, the draft operating concept should in turn serve as a "basis for decision-making": "If it's good for the village, then we'll do it. But we'll have to wait and see." Of course, all the major projects have to be financed somehow. Bernried's per capita debt is "relatively high" at 2986,<> euros per inhabitant, Malterer admitted. But: "On the other hand, from the point of view of the municipality, there is considerable real estate assets."
And what about "energy and climate protection"? Malterer reported on a feasibility study regarding a local heating supply. If this is available, funding should be applied for. The advantage in Bernried: With the Buchheim Museum, the monastery, the primary school and the Theresia-Petsch, among others, several bulk customers could be supplied via one line. Finally, Malterer was able to announce good news about the long-awaited e-charging stations of the "17er Oberlandenergie": "They will be set up soon. That will happen before the end of this year."