Jeseník did not announce a referendum on the construction of a water park

Jeseník - Jeseník will not be declaring a referendum on the construction of a water park for now. The organizers of the petition for local voting were unable to gather the required number of signatures. The petition sheets were signed by 1,528 people, while 1,983 votes were needed, which is 20 percent of eligible voters. However, the petition committee did not rule out the possibility of attempting to gather the necessary signatures. The signature campaign in the town began at a time when the municipality had already announced a public contract for the construction of the water park after years of preparation. The wellness center, costing around 200 million crowns excluding VAT, is expected to open in two years.
    "We are faced with a difficult decision of whether to end the petition, sweep it off the table, and let things take their course, or stand by the 1,528 votes of the citizens. We are preparing a meeting of the preparatory committee on Friday. The last real option is to find volunteers or pay temporary workers to canvass the housing estates or Beer Days," said Petr Laštovica, the representative of the referendum's preparatory committee, at today's council meeting.
    The organizers of the signature action fear that the city may become indebted in the future due to the operation of the water park. According to them, the decision to construct the center was passed by a narrow majority of council members, and the financing of the project is also contentious for the future.
    However, some council members argued that the signatures on the petition sheets do not reflect the opinion of the vast majority of residents. Others, on the other hand, openly stated that they are against the construction. They previously pointed out that operation would cost between eight and 11 million crowns annually, which is half of the city's investment funds.
    The city has been preparing the construction of the water park for several years. The municipality has the project ready and announced a public contract in April. According to Deputy Mayor Libor Halas (Young for Jeseník), the bids should be opened on August 21. According to Mayor Marie Fomiczewová (ČSSD), the organizers came forward with the petition too late. "I believe this should have been done at the time when a twice as large water park project was being planned or at the beginning of the project preparation, when there were public discussions. The discussion should have taken place earlier, when the project was neither ordered nor paid for and such funds had not been allocated," Fomiczewová told ČTK.
    The water park is to be built on the site of the current municipal swimming pool. The preparation of the proposal cost the municipality up to ten million crowns. The municipality is expected to secure nearly 80 million crowns for the construction from European funds, while additional funds will come from donations and the sale of municipal property; 50 million will be covered by a loan. Construction is expected to start in the autumn, and the city plans to open the water park in two years.