Oberwil Lieli
Gmeind says yes to the purchase of emergency generators against the blackout and to the budget with a 48 percent tax rate
The municipality of Oberwil-Lieli is arming itself in order to be prepared in the event of a blackout. The municipality has approved a corresponding loan of CHF 160,000. In addition, the Lieli passing road will be renovated for 5.5 million and the tax rate will drop to an all-time low of 48%.
The Lieli through road should be renovated in 2024/25 – there are also adjustments in the area around the Volg.
It is well known that no one can predict the future. Not even the Oberwil-Lieli city council. That’s why city councilor Stefan Strebel had to clearly admit to the 144 voters in the community on Friday evening: “Maybe we won’t need them for 20 years.”
By them he meant the seven emergency generators that the municipality wants to buy. In the event of a power outage, for example, pumping stations for water supply or critical infrastructure such as emergency meeting points at the city administration and fire brigade magazine or the Volg and the gas station should keep working. The city council requested a loan of CHF 160,000, which the ruler approved with only one vote against.
Strebel emphasized in advance: “We are not talking about an energy shortage, which could currently be a problem. But from a blackout, a total interruption of electricity that lasts several days». At the beginning of the year, the City Council therefore set up the “Blackout Scenario” working group which dealt with possible measures. “This list of possible hotspots is not exhaustive and could be expanded on later,” Strebel explained.
“We can do it without problems”
Financially, Oberwil-Lieli is in good shape, with net worth at the end of 2021 of around 89 million. The sale of the Juchächer parcels should also ensure sufficient liquidity in the coming years. Mayor Ilias Läber was then able to present the community with a budget for 2023 with a reduced tax rate of 5% to 48%.
“We can do it without any problems,” Läber said. A slight profit surplus of around CHF 190,000 is expected. Only twelve of those present rejected the budget.
In future, the fire brigade magazine will also receive an emergency power generator.
An important investment for the municipal treasury will be the rehabilitation of the road passing through Lieli, used by 2,000 vehicles every day. For this, the Gmeind has unanimously expressed a credit of 5.48 million Swiss francs. If all goes according to plan, construction should start in early 2024 and finish in the summer of 2025. Refurbishment is planned, including service lines and bus stops in the area between Juraweg and Englisächer. Forecourts such as the Volg are also undergoing renovation and adaptation.
New regulations, smart meters and a street sweeper
The vote was narrower with 105 yes to 32 no for the loan of 230,000 francs for the purchase of smart meters (remotely readable electricity meters). The other items on the community agenda were passed unanimously among those present. These include Oberwil-Lieli’s share of the loan for the implementation of the ICT concept at the Mutschellen regional school of around CHF 127’000 or the loan for the purchase of a new road sweeper for depot (CHF 160′ 000).
The assembly also said yes to the additional credit for the development of Juchächer (620,000 francs), the new personnel regulation of the municipality, the new electrical regulation and the increase of the workload for school social work from 10 to 20 percent .
Under Miscellaneous, three transfer proposals were voted on by the assembly. With 82:48 votes, the city council is commissioned to develop a project for a pond in the Fischgraben area. Applications to revise the type of funding for the Mutschellen tennis club (46:56) with the construction of a fourth court and the rapid introduction of school swimming lessons, which are anchored in curriculum 21, were narrowly rejected. (52:56).
