Roof collapse at the former Dürrenbächli kindergarten
Last week, part of the old roof of the former Laufenburg kindergarten collapsed, and this week it collapsed completely. The site has been cordoned off. The building, which has long been uninhabitable, is to be demolished.
Susanne Hörth
In November 2018, the newly built triple kindergarten “Vogtsmatte” was inaugurated in Laufenburg. There was already a kindergarten at this location. It made way for its successor. At that time, it was already clear that after the new building was completed, the children from the nearby Dürrenbächli kindergarten would also move in here. As town clerk Marco Waser explained when asked, no maintenance work has been carried out on the former, and already very old, Dürrenbächli kindergarten since the kindergartens were merged. “This means that there is no longer a functioning heating system and the periodic electrical checks were no longer carried out due to the system being taken out of service.” The building had therefore not been able to be used for years for safety reasons. “Water had also been seeping into the building through the ceiling for some time.”
Just how damaged the roof is has become clear to everyone in recent days. Last week it partially collapsed. “As an immediate measure, the property was cordoned off,” the city announced, adding: “This week the roof has completely given way. Due to the changed situation, the costs for demolishing the building are now being recalculated.” The city clerk denied the question of whether the collapse might make demolition cheaper. “The existing indicative offer is already several years old. With the inflation of recent years, it is probably not possible to save money even with competing offers.” Shortly before this year’s summer community meeting, the city council had withdrawn the already-listed item for the loan request of 100,000 francs for the demolition of the former Dürrenbächli kindergarten. There have been changes to the plan, said Waser. “It was originally planned that there would be a daycare center there, but that is now off the table. Care is also being taken not to postpone any investments that are not urgently needed.” The demolition, or rather the loan required for it, must be approved by the municipal assembly. Could the city council decide on demolition without such approval due to possible further risks of collapse? Marco Waser says: “According to paragraph 90d, section 1 of the Municipal Act, the city council can make an expenditure for which no or insufficient credit has been approved in the budget, provided that this cannot be postponed. The finance committee must be informed of the urgent expenditure based on paragraph 90d, section 2.” In the case of the former Dürrenbächli kindergarten, he adds: “As there is no acute risk situation, a postponement until a municipal assembly should be acceptable.”
