The Municipality of De Wolden pulls out its wallet and invests three million euros extra in the Huus for Sport and Culture in Zuidwolde. Initially, the building would cost 14 million. Due to the increase in construction costs, that amount eventually rose to 17 million euros. Last night, a council majority approved the proposal.
According to Jaap Wiechers, leader of the Christian Union, this is pure force majeure. “Construction in the Netherlands is experiencing stormy weather. Energy prices are rising enormously and the costs for building materials are skyrocketing. There is little that can be done about it.” He emphasized that canceling the project also makes no sense. “You have to build anyway and an investment has already been made.” The majority of the council agreed to the additional costs.
‘Total nonsense’
The PvdA understands the importance of the arrival of the multifunctional center and therefore approved the investment. Nevertheless, the party finds it special that the Municipal Executive wants to cut back on the social domain, but now has three million euros available for the building. Party chairman Mark Turksma: “If only we were made of stone, think the people who feel the cutbacks in the social domain. Because when it comes to stones, the alderman for finance is generous.”
Pieter Groot of GemeenteBelangen was not pleased with those statements. “You are accusing the college all the time. In the council we made a decision together about the social domain. The college cannot defend itself in this way.” PvdA member Turksma reacted briefly and thought it was nonsense. “Total nonsense. If there is money left over, I will remind the groups to reverse the cuts in the social domain.”
‘Bad case’
The CDA was the only party that looked at the plans differently. Councilor Jeene Keizer was surprised about the state of affairs surrounding the extra money. “I am quite shocked and shocked how easily the college and councilors are willing to get another three million euros from the general reserve.”
According to Keizer, the council is at a major and important crossroads. “We can still go in the right direction. If the sledgehammer breaks into the gym tomorrow, there will be no turning back.” He also believes that the council factions have been given too little time to take a position. He also believes that the civil service has been put under pressure to complete the council proposal on time and well-founded.
Financial alderman Egbert van Dijk thought that comment went too far. “It’s a very bad thing to say that the device has been pressured. It isn’t. So I don’t know where you got that information from, but at least it doesn’t come from this organization.”
Construction can start
The construction of the multifunctional center can now officially start. The gym is the first to be demolished. This must be done before March 1. Alderman Van Dijk promised that this would be the last time that extra money would go to the project. According to him, the contractor has to make do with the money that has now been made available.