The scrap rally ended in a fiasco – the PS MP resigns from responsibility – 2024-04-01 14:13:26

Member of Parliament Sheikki Laakso resigns from responsibility. Sanna Vornanen

The carbon monoxide fiasco that led to the suspension of the scrap rally organized in the Kouvola ice rink in the summer of 2023 was not the organizer’s fault, MP Sheikki Laakso (ps) tells Kouvola Sanom.

The trash rally was organized by the charity association Repsikka, whose operations Laakso is no longer involved in. Laakso founded the association with his then wife, now Johanna Budden with in 2022.

The scrap rally was stopped because the exhaust fumes spread into the stands. The fire marshal on duty gave a recommendation to suspend the event due to the increase in carbon monoxide.

Laakso ordered a test of the ice rink’s ventilation. It turned out that the ventilation had worked at 40 percent efficiency. The power could have been increased to one hundred percent. Kouvola Sanomat says that it has seen the report.

– If the vacuum cleaners had been turned on properly, the exhaust gases would have gone away, Laakso tells the magazine.

Laakso suspects that the city staff did not know how to use the air conditioners.

Not to court

The association Repsikka, previously represented by Laakso, suffered losses of 50,000–60,000 euros from the incident, KoSa says.

According to Johanna Budde, who reports to Iltalehti, the event would have been a loss even without the interruption.

The city agreed to reduce Repsika’s rent by half. According to Budde, the solution for space rent “satisfies both parties”, i.e. the city and Repsikka.

The chairman of Repsika, Budde, says that the association will continue to operate, contrary to what was previously said in the Kouvola Sanomi and Iltalehti articles.

The intention was to organize the event again this year, but the project failed. Repsikka no longer organizes scrap rallies, Budde says.

Laakso is not considering seeking compensation from the city through the courts. According to Budde, it would not be possible because Laakso does not represent Repsikka.

The city of Kouvola commented on the case to KoSa in a general way.

Correction 1.4. at 2:27 p.m. According to Johanna Budde, Repsikka ry will continue its activities, contrary to what was previously reported in the story. Budde’s information that Laakso no longer represents Repsikka has been added to the article. Information has also been added to the article that, according to Budde, the solution for space rent satisfies both the city and Repsikka.