The association can manage investments without asking the municipalities to pay more / but it does not work without loans.
(hf). Rudolf Koger, commercial director of the southern Markgräflerland water association, sent the most important message in advance when explaining the budget for 2021: “The water sales price can be kept stable at 64 cents per cubic meter”. This means that the eight member communities can buy the water they feed into their networks in the coming year at the same price as in 2020. From this purchase price and the costs they have to spend to maintain their pipes and systems, they then calculate the fee that the citizens have to pay. This is different in every church.
The association is planning numerous measures in 2021, all of which serve to ensure the long-term water supply. As Koger explained, the renovation of the elevated reservoir in Schallbach (190,000 euros), the start of construction of a new deep well near Kirchen (380,000 euros and another 760,000 in 2022) and the maintenance of the low-level elevated reservoir in Rümmingen (50 000 euros). The renovation of this tank is limited to the bare minimum, as it will soon no longer be needed because the elevated tank of the high zone will be expanded and equipped with a delivery line to the lower zone, says Koger. This work will already begin in 2021 for 60,000 euros.
An important measure is the tendering of civil engineering readiness around the clock. So far, the association has always phoned civil engineering companies individually in the event of a pipe burst and then commissioned the one who was able to react most quickly. Now, together with the municipal utilities, they want to invest 40,000 euros in a permanent, on-call partner, explained Koger. Koger assumes that it will be possible to acquire properties in the Mattfeld catchment area again in 2021. Accordingly, 25,000 euros are reserved for property purchases in the household. The association can even conclude sales contracts in 2021, which will only take effect in 2022. A corresponding authorization for a maximum of 100,000 euros is noted in the budget.
In terms of personnel, the association will add another water master to its team. He will be trained for at least a year in order to be able to replace the experienced water master Thomas Bürgin, whose retirement is in sight, the managing director explained.
All of this means that there will be no avoiding a loan of 750,000 euros in 2021, said Koger. To be able to complete what has already been started, another loan of around 759,000 euros is required in 2022. After that, however, the liabilities – at the end of 2021 they will be 4.140 million euros – should not increase further for the time being.
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