As of: March 15, 2024, 9:09 a.m
By: Franziska Seliger
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They don't want later opening times: Early swimmers around Helmut Patay (3rd from right) handed Mayor Anton Ortlieb (3rd from left) a signature list with 132 signatures.
© Franziska Seliger
After the municipality of Benediktbeuern decided to shorten the opening times in the Alpenwarmbad in the coming season, there was a hail of criticism.
With a signature campaign, some citizens want to persuade the municipality to turn around.
Benediktbeuern – High personnel costs and a lack of employees were the main reasons why the local council decided in February, after a lengthy discussion, to reduce the opening times of the Alpenwarmbad by two hours on working days outside of the holidays.
With the start of the new season, the outdoor pool will only open at 12 p.m. instead of 10 a.m. as before (we reported).
The reactions of affected swimmers followed promptly.
The decision was criticized, among other things, in letters to the editor in our newspaper.
Signature campaign with 132 people: Citizens protest against planned reductions in opening hours
In the run-up to the local council meeting on Wednesday evening, several citizens handed over the list of names to town hall boss Anton Ortlieb from a signature campaign that Karin Huber and Elisabeth Rummel were in charge of initiating.
As Helmut Patay, one of her colleagues, explained at the handover, 132 people signed the list.
“We didn't have much time, otherwise there would have been more,” said the Benediktbeuern resident with conviction.
That shows the great interest citizens have in their bathroom.
The signatories are calling on the community to reconsider shortening the opening times because: “This is a major disruption,” says Patay.
Not just for the numerous older people who went swimming in the morning.
He learned from holiday apartment landlords that guests also liked to use the morning hours to swim.
As do parents with small children.
For the people in the monastery village, the outdoor pool offers great “added value” that should not be destroyed.
Mayor Ortlieb shows understanding - but the community has to save money
Karin Huber also pointed out the great health value of swimming.
In the summer months, around 10 to 15 guests would come to swim from 10 a.m.
Given the staffing problems, Huber said it wasn't necessary for them to be supervised by three lifeguards.
Mayor Ortlieb contradicted this.
Having so many supervisory staff available is “the obligation” of the municipality.
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The town hall boss could certainly understand the displeasure of those present about the reduction in opening times.
However, he emphasized that the municipality had no choice from a financial perspective and given the pool's high deficit.
As treasurer Florian Hlawatsch explained during the budget discussions, the expected deficit of the outdoor pool this year, including depreciation, will be 572,100 euros.
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“Inflation is the curse that arrives a year later”
“We will just manage the budget this year.
Inflation is the curse that arrives a year later,” explained Ortlieb.
If the opening times were not reduced and operating costs were not reduced, the only alternative would be to increase the admission prices.
In addition, there would be an acute shortage of personnel and skilled workers.
So far, no employee has been found for the cash register.
The signature campaign was also discussed at the local council meeting.
Hans-Otto Pielmeier (CSU), for example, warned: “We don’t need any more cuts.” Otherwise the system could be closed straight away.
Regarding his suggestion that the missing supervisory staff should be recruited from the ranks of the water rescue service, Ortlieb explained that this had already been attempted without success.
Rudi Mühlhans (FBM) suggested a meeting with the affected swimmers and pool employees to find a solution.
No decision has been made on this proposal.
The mayor would like to discuss the issue again at the next meeting.
Given the budget situation, he also emphasized the need to save.
And “every institution has to make its contribution”.
(fn)
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