Sauerbrunn and meadows

Hotter dispute: The citizens have decided

The survey turned out in favor of Bad Sauerbrunn.

(Bild: Judt Reinhard)

The conflict between Bad Sauerbrunn and Wiesen and Pöttsching is intensifying. A survey shows that most residents of the disputed settlements want to be part of the spa resort.

As reported, the three municipalities are at loggerheads over settlements that belong to Wiesen or Pöttsching but are geographically closer to Bad Sauerbrunn. The spa town would like to bring these settlements to itself. A survey was recently launched among the citizens concerned.

80 percent in favor of Bad Sauerbrunn
Now the results are in: The majority want Bad Sauerbrunn. According to the mayor of the spa town, Gerhard Hutter (LIBS), there are around 1200 main and secondary residences in the disputed settlements. Notices were distributed to 420 households. 856 signed ballot papers were returned, of which more than 80 percent had declared themselves in favor of Bad Sauerbrunn, 18 percent against and around two percent had not been filled in correctly. Only eligible voters were allowed to take part; they had to give their name, address and signature.

Clear result
The survey of the Römersee settlement had already taken place in December, according to Hutter. The survey was initiated by a citizens' initiative of which he himself is a member. For him, the result - although not legally binding - is more than clear. However, Hutter says that many people did not fill in the questionnaires for fear of reprisals from Wiesen or Pöttsching. Many untrue rumors had also been spread. He assumes that the result also reflects the mood of the "non-voters". The result will be passed on to the neighboring municipalities and the state.

Weghofer doubts
Wiesen's mayor Matthias Weghofer (ÖVP), on the other hand, has serious doubts about the survey: "Hutter should put the ballot papers on the table." He is convinced that 75 percent of the Wiesen settlements want to remain with the strawberry community. The approach is dubious and misleading.

People intimidated
It is not clear who exactly this citizens' initiative is and who Bad Sauerbrunn has classified as eligible to vote. He was also aware of several cases in which people had been intimidated. Voices of Wiesen supporters had been ignored in the survey, while others had been told to vote for Sauerbrunn with regard to the kindergarten place. "We're not in Russia here," says Weghofer. He now also believes that the state needs to take action.

For Hutter, the result - as the respondents had to declare their names - is beyond any doubt. Every household had been visited and slips of paper had been put in the post boxes.