The sale of the old customs house is perfect. 71 of 123 eligible voters approved the sale of the building on the old wooden bridge at the community meeting on Saturday afternoon. The assembly also approved a loan of around ten million francs for extensive work on the schoolhouse. According to plans, the three renovated and expanded buildings should be able to start operations in August 2022.
In 2009 the municipality of Stein bought the customs house on the Rhine from the federal government for 480,000 francs. A few months ago Edgar Steinacher from Gansingen made an offer to buy the customs house for half a million francs. A culture and catering business is to be built on the ground floor. The project was presented at an information event in September of this year.
Councilor Sabine Datz had to justify the community’s intention to sell against some critical voices. “Selling the customs house is a good solution” to counter the vacancy and the progressive loss of substance of the building.
She particularly praised the future use of the building by the buyer. The basic idea of keeping the building accessible to the population was secured, explained Datz. Associated with the purchase agreement is a buyback right of the municipality of Stein within ten years.
With 100 yes votes, the assembly approved a loan of around ten million francs for the school building renovation. The background to the extensive renovation and expansion of the school is a new usage concept resulting from the relocation of the upper level to Rheinfelden and the doubling of the primary classes, which is expected to continue until 2025.
According to the local council, the objectives of the measure include adapting them to the needs of the disabled, refurbishing sanitary facilities, increasing earthquake security and integrating outsourced areas such as music schools, play groups or day structures. Work on the school’s administrative wing is scheduled to begin in June 2021.
Another important decision was made in the meeting. With 86 votes in favor, the municipal council received the power to sell a parcel to the canton. The background to this is that the municipality of Stein would like to get the canton’s contract to run a middle school there.
Middle school in Stein would be a “stroke of luck”
As councilor Sabine Datz explained, it is only a power of attorney. Stein still competes with two other locations in the Fricktal with regard to secondary school. The municipal council sees the possible relocation of the cantonal middle school with up to 900 students and around 100 teachers as a “stroke of luck”.
The former mayor Hansueli Bühler, who spoke up at the meeting and pleaded for the sale of the plot to the canton, also spoke of positive effects and “opportunities for the further development of stone” given the establishment of a cantonal middle school.
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