New construction and renovation of the Aa en Hunze field service in Gieten will be considerably more expensive. 1.6 million euros had been reserved for the project, but the investment amount has risen to more than 2.5 million. Increased construction prices and more office space required are driving up costs for the municipality.
According to the mayor and aldermen, an additional credit of 923,000 euros is needed. According to the council, major deletions from the original design by BDG Architecten from Zwolle also have consequences. That actually means a new design, which also costs money and slows things down a bit.
The field service of Aa en Hunze, responsible for maintenance of green areas, roads and anti-slip conditions, now has an office and work sheds at Oelenboom 10. But according to a feasibility study, they have been cramped at that location for some time now. And that will only become tighter with the arrival of more people due to more work.
The municipal field service was expanded in 2021 with so-called core teams, small local maintenance teams that must keep public spaces safe, accessible and tidy. These teams are located in the villages of Rolde, Gasselternijveen, Annen and Gieten. Gieten’s team is housed at the field service at the Oelenboom. The municipality is now renting a location elsewhere in Gieten.
To solve the space shortage, the adjacent plot of Rondkamp 10 will be added to the field service. A new, sustainable two-storey building will be constructed there, containing a canteen, offices, consultation rooms, meeting rooms and showers. There will also be a new shed for equipment such as mowers and tractors. The office and workspace will soon be renovated at the current location on the Oelenboom.
The latest construction plan takes into account almost 700 square meters of office space, which is 250 square meters more than in the original design. According to the municipality, there is a need for even more (flexible) workplaces. There will soon be room for fifty people in total. The main entrance of the field service will soon be located on Rondkamp.
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