400,000 euros is like sand in the eyes, but nothing about water and the environment

The municipality will use them for the reconstruction of eight sections of municipal roads, which are in a rather poor condition. Despite the heated debate, in the end, all but one of the councilors agreed to the “bargain”, and the status of the Poček training ground was not mentioned.

The municipality of Postojna will conclude another individual agreement with the Ministry of Defense on mutual cooperation in the use of local public infrastructure in the area of ​​the municipality, namely for the years 2022 and 2023. It is already the third such agreement after 2018, when the municipality, with the annulment of the national spatial plan (DPN) for the training center withdrew from the umbrella agreement with Mors (which, among other things, also defined the financial compensation), because in her opinion there was no longer a basis for it, because the central training center also became unconstitutional according to the municipality’s interpretation. Regardless of this, with Morso’s reference to the fact that he has a license for the training ground, military activities continued, while the ministry also started a new procedure for accepting the DPN for the training ground, which is still ongoing, as well as a comprehensive environmental impact assessment.

After the municipality’s withdrawal from the agreement, the ministry claimed that they no longer even had a legal basis for paying compensation or for investing in local infrastructure as a result of intensive military activities in the area of ​​the municipality. Through a separate agreement, the two parties retroactively arranged the payment of the state’s outstanding obligations for a new fire-rescue center, and partially also for the repair of local roads. For the years 2022 and 2023, the municipality negotiated slightly more than in the past, namely up to 200,000 euros per year, which, according to some critics, is still a very modest amount considering the burdens caused by the training ground. Part of the interested public, which opposes the training ground, claims all the time anyway that the municipality should not give up its principles for “crumbs” and regulate the issue comprehensively.

Sašo Švigelj

80% co-financing, but a maximum of 400,000

At the last meeting, the councilors of Postojna discussed the content of the agreement, which foresees the co-financing of the leveling and resurfacing project of eight sections of local roads by Morso in the amount of up to 200,000 euros per year, or up to 400,000 euros in total. These are the sections Planina-Studeno-Erazem (8.2 kilometers), Hruševje-Orehek-Prestranek (7.4 kilometers), Vrhe-Landol-R2 (5.3 kilometers), Vrhe (333 meters), Hruševje-Sajevče-Rakulik (4.4 kilometers), Hruševje-Church of St. Danijela (297 meters), Hruševje-Strane-Malo Ubeljsko-Tri hiše (7.2 kilometers) and Fara (551 meters), i.e. also for sections not used by the army. In principle, the agreement assumes that Mors would co-finance the project, which is estimated at 488,600 euros, in the amount of 80 percent of the value, and the municipality the remaining 20 percent. In the event that the total final value of the project is higher and the amount of Morsa co-financing reaches 400,000 euros, the difference will be settled by the Municipality of Postojna.

It was this provision that confused the saint The bell of Cernač (SDS), who suggested that the municipality try to reach an agreement through additional negotiations that Mors pays 80 percent of the final value of the project in any case. He pointed out the probability that, given the rise in prices, the actual end value will be higher, and the difference will have to be settled by the municipality. “I see no reason why this could not be achieved. The amount is not such that it could be problematic for the ministry’s budget,” he assessed.

The mayor Igor Marentič objected to this, saying that Mors “explicitly agreed to 400,000 euros” and yes otherwise “the project will not see realization”. Černač’s proposal was not accepted, but in the end, 18 of the 19 councilors present supported the conclusion of the agreement.

What about protecting water resources?

He was only against Just happy (List for young people). “I think that with this agreement we are not pursuing the long-term interests of the municipality of Postojna in relation to Počko. Such agreements do not solve the issue of environmental protection or water resources protection, but are more or less sand in the eyes of the state,” he answered our question, why he did not support the agreement.

The municipality emphasized that by concluding the agreement, the municipality is not assuming any additional or future obligations in relation to the training ground, nor is it prejudicing its attitude towards this open issue. The mayor adds that even in the coalition agreement concluded last week, there is a provision that the municipality will continue to strive to reduce activities at Poček with the ultimate goal of closing it, and during the period of use of the training ground, to obtain appropriate compensation.