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Clueless — and plenty of it! Blind Decision-Making, Irresponsibility, and Lack of Transparency in the Weißenfels City Council Regarding the IKIGThe recent developments surrounding the planning and discussion of the Intermunicipal Industrial Area (IKIG) shed light on the information policies of the city of Weißenfels and the role of Mayor Martin Papke. In particular, the delayed response to a citizen inquiry and the contradictory information presented during the city council meeting on November 7, 2024, raise serious doubts about the transparency and sincerity of the process.  Delayed Response and Questionable CommunicationWolfgang Gotthelf, a concerned citizen and critic of the IKIG, submitted a detailed inquiry as early as August 28, 2024. Although the response was dated September 13, 2024, it was not delivered to him until November 18, 2024 — five days after the decisive city council meeting. Particularly problematic is the fact that Mayor Papke stated during the meeting that the answer was already available, but it had not been transmitted in time. This delay not only left Gotthelf, but potentially also the council members who were to vote on the project, with an incomplete information base.The delayed delivery of the response raises fundamental questions: Why was the information withheld? Was this a deliberate attempt to silence critical voices? Even if unintentional, the situation leaves a bitter aftertaste — the impression arises that an open discussion about the project's risks and challenges was deliberately stifled. The Quality of the Information ProvidedThe city's response to the citizen inquiry is another major concern. Wolfgang Gotthelf rightly criticizes the answer as vague, dodging key questions such as a worst-case scenario or detailed risk analysis. Instead, an optimistic narrative is presented, emphasizing funding opportunities and the potential for new jobs — without addressing realistic risks. Key aspects such as potential cost overruns, social follow-up costs, and the impact on existing infrastructure are not concretely addressed.Particularly alarming is the assessment of potential cost developments. While Gotthelf, drawing from similar large-scale projects like Stuttgart 21, assumes a doubling of the originally estimated €141 million, the city’s response remains vague and refers to “manageable risks.” Specific figures or scenarios are completely missing. This undermines trust in the planning process and suggests the city council may have made decisions without a solid factual foundation. City Council Decision: Were Members Adequately Informed?In this context, one must ask whether the city council was even in a position to make a sound decision on November 7, 2024. It appears that the members were primarily presented with the administration’s optimistic projections, while critical analyses or alternative scenarios — for example, concerning financial risks or social costs — were absent. This one-sided presentation may have led to a hasty and potentially unsustainable decision.Particularly problematic is the role of the special-purpose association (Zweckverband), which, according to the city’s response, is to bear the ongoing costs and risks. Gotthelf sharply criticizes this delegation of responsibility — and not without reason: it seems the city of Weißenfels is attempting to shirk accountability should the project fail. The city council should have examined this issue more critically before making its decision. A Problematic Strategy by City LeadershipThe actions of the mayor and the city administration in the context of the IKIG are highly problematic. The delayed responses to citizen inquiries, the inadequate information provided, and the lack of worst-case planning all point to a flawed communication strategy. The fact that the city council made such a far-reaching decision based on this information raises serious doubts about the quality of the decision-making process.The fact that, due to the involvement of a lawyer, the video recording of the city council meeting had to be taken offline further supports the suspicion that many council members do not want the public to see how the IKIG was discussed. This lack of transparency raises significant questions about whether the council members are truly acting in the public interest — and whether there are underlying motives requiring the IKIG to go forward at any cost. The IKIG project may offer opportunities, but the city of Weißenfels must demonstrate its willingness to communicate risks openly and incorporate them into its planning. Otherwise, a loss of public trust looms — one that could not only delegitimize the project but also seriously damage the credibility of the city administration. The Inquiry by Mr. Gotthelf and the Response from Martin Papke (Mayor) & André Zschuckelt (Managing Director, SEWIG Burgenlandkreis)Note: Mr. Gotthelf requested a response from the city council — which, strictly speaking, never came. City of Weißenfels September 13, 2024 Mayor Response to Inquiry Public AF 016/2024_2/1 By Citizen Mr. Gotthelf on August 28, 2024 in the City Council Confirmation by Legal and Procurement Office Inquiry 1: Findings of the feasibility study on IKIG, mainly as a deeply concerned citizen of Weißenfels An initial analysis indicated that the risks and challenges for Weißenfels are disproportionate to any potential benefits. The study broadly estimates total costs at €141.24 million, accompanied by the caveat that this applies to very large lot sizes (clusters), i.e., industrial-sized plots. For smaller lots, the cost estimate is not expected to hold. Future price developments were not taken into account by the study. When comparing to major projects like Stuttgart 21 and BER, I won’t say a tripling is likely, but a doubling to around €300 million seems realistic. Regarding operating costs, maintenance, cleaning, security, and administration, the only statement made is that these could be financed through fees and contributions in the best-case scenario. Since business taxes will only flow in gradually, each participating municipality must anticipate heavy long-term financial burdens on their budgets. Specifically, I ask whether the city of Weißenfels has developed a worst-case scenario for:
Please provide a city-authored worst-case scenario, not a predictable answer from the structural commission. Dear Mr. Gotthelf, We would like to respond to your inquiry during the citizen’s question period of the Weißenfels City Council on August 29, 2024, as follows. We will address the main topics you raised: Currently, the "Revier 2038" structural transformation program offers a unique funding opportunity: The funding rate covers 95% (90% from 2027) of the costs for planning and infrastructure necessary for developing the Intermunicipal Industrial and Commercial Area (IKIG). This is a unique chance to utilize significant funding volumes designated exclusively for this purpose. The feasibility study recommends a phased and demand-oriented expansion of the site. Development will proceed in steps based on available funding and concrete interest from industrial and commercial enterprises. The Saxony-Anhalt Investment and Marketing Corporation is receiving many inquiries for business settlements that cannot currently be met due to a lack of appropriately sized plots. There is thus an urgent need for action to prevent these investments from bypassing the state. The goal is to offer demand-oriented industrial and commercial sites that can be developed when investor interest materializes. Other industrial areas are not considered direct competitors. Rather, they complement the IKIG with different focuses — for example, Zeitz-Tröglitz targets chemical industry suppliers, as does Leuna. The Wiedemar site in Saxony is currently not being pursued. Regarding social infrastructure: Creating high-quality industrial jobs can help counter demographic decline and emigration caused by a lack of employment, attract skilled workers and families, and thus ensure long-term use of social infrastructure (e.g., schools, daycare, retail). At this point, there are no plans to build new schools, daycares, or housing; instead, the aim is to better utilize existing infrastructure — by revitalizing empty homes and fully using current school and daycare capacity. Cost control will be the responsibility of the to-be-established special-purpose association. Revenues from marketing the first developed plots will fund the next construction phases. This ensures that land is developed only as needed, not prematurely removed from agricultural use. It is true that the current cost estimate is a rough projection, which will be refined in future planning phases (land-use and zoning plans). Your assumption of a cost doubling is not substantiated. Cost increases could be counteracted through adjustments to the development area. Burgenlandkreis assumes 50% of the costs and risks. The remaining 50% will be divided among the four participating municipalities based on a distribution key reflecting land size and population. It is correct that business tax revenue is not expected immediately. The participating municipalities will agree on how to distribute tax revenues according to the same key. Additional revenues will also come from property taxes on businesses and income taxes from employees. The area will be operated by the special-purpose association, which will allocate operating costs to the businesses located there. Initially, the municipalities and Burgenlandkreis will need to cover early investments, as first tenants will not fully offset expenses. Lastly, we would point out that focusing solely on worst-case scenarios would likely prevent any future development. Every forward-looking project involves both risks and opportunities. In the case of IKIG, the opportunities are substantial, and the risks manageable and controllable. We warmly invite you to continue following and participating in the process through upcoming council sessions. Martin Papke Mayor André Zschuckelt Managing Director City of Weißenfels SEWIG Burgenlandkreis Author: AI-Translation - Redaktion | 19.11.2024 |
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