Koblenz: Wintergmeind rejects the 30 km/h speed limit across the board – whatever else there was to talk about

“It can be assumed that 30 km/h zones are likely to find broad support,” the local council stated in the “30 km/h overall concept”. This assumption should not be confirmed. The community meeting, to which Ammann Andreas Wanzenried was able to welcome 76 of the 790 eligible voters, rejected – this much is anticipated – the loan of 75,000 francs for 30 km/h measures with 43 votes to 28.

As local councilor Markus Eschbach explained, a speed limit of 30 km/h should be introduced on municipal roads in residential areas, with the exception of cantonal roads and in the train station area. Christian Kuhn from BP Ballmer and Partner AG, which developed the concept, showed the effects of Tempo 30 and presented the ideas for the markings and signaling.

The discussion showed that the nationwide introduction in particular is met with resistance. “Do we even need this?” said one voter. “Two votes have already been taken.” Another vote was more conciliatory: “I am absolutely in favor of a speed limit of 30 km/h. But I don’t think it’s tactically very wise to want to introduce speed limit 30 km/h across the board. That’s probably a bit hard for a lot of people.” There were also concerns that approving the loan would mean buying a pig in a poke, so to speak. “I’m having a bit of trouble voting on a project that hasn’t been fully developed,” said one voter.

Ammann’s attempt to get a vote in view of the escalating discussion was countered: “The discussion is important. This discussion would have been necessary for the first 50,000 francs (for the concept, ed.). Now you are faced with a fait accompli.”

Financial situation under criticism: “It’s twelve o’clock – not five to”

There was also talk of the 2024 budget, which was presented by Vice Mayor Arnold Näf. With an unchanged tax rate of 118 percent and a turnover of almost 8.5 million francs, the estimate envisages an expenditure surplus of almost 995,000 francs, which is attributed to higher expenditure in the education, social and construction sectors and to slightly lower tax income becomes. “The local council had to fight to keep the deficit below one million,” says Arnold Näf. The expected deficit will lead to a decrease in equity, which amounted to 6.238 million francs at the end of 2022. “In the medium to long term, budget balance is not achieved,” he stated. “Measures will be necessary in the future.”

When asked by the meeting about the local council’s plan to improve the situation, the Ammann explained that the local council was dealing with the situation. Starting points can be seen in the area of ​​schools, but also in administration, especially in construction management, and in social security.

“It’s not five to twelve, it’s twelve,” said one voter. «We finally have to wake up. We need more income or we have to tighten our belts.” The proposal from the meeting seemed rather unorthodox to “move” financial equalization through an “uprising of the poor communities” through a concerted increase in tax rates to 130 percent.

The revised personnel regulations were also something to talk about. A motion from the meeting to delete the proposed reserve positions was passed. In the final vote, the regulations were approved by a large majority. The other items on the agenda were also approved, including the service agreement with Spitex Regio Kirchspiel and a loan of 675,000 francs for the renovation of the Ried II school building.