Uproar over survey

Hotter dispute: Now the citizens are being asked

Mayor Weghofer wants to keep the controversial settlements in Wiesen and warns against "hotter theft".

(Bild: Christoph Miehl)

A survey regarding a possible change in the municipal boundaries between Wiesen and Bad Sauerbrunn is causing a stir.

The history is well known: Wiesen and Bad Sauerbrunn are in a clinch over those settlements that belong to Wiesen - or Pöttsching - but are geographically closer to Bad Sauerbrunn. The strawberry community fears that the spa town could annex these settlements as part of a "hotter theft". The dispute has been rekindled by an opinion poll that has now been launched.

Around 350 households are being surveyed
A "Hotterbereinigung citizens' initiative" is currently going from house to house in the affected settlements and asking citizens to declare in writing and by name whether they want to stay with Wiesen or Pöttsching or switch to Bad Sauerbrunn (see facsimile). According to Bad Sauerbrunn's mayor Gerhard Hutter, the initiative is backed by people who are affected themselves. He is also involved. Only the 350 or so households in the disputed settlements would be surveyed.

This letter will be sent to the residents in the affected settlements.

(Bild: zVg)

Capturing the mood
The aim of the survey was to find out the mood among those affected in a non-judgemental way. The fact that people have to identify themselves by name in relation to a settlement should dispel any doubts about the credibility of the survey right from the outset. The data will not be passed on, but an independent body can check whether the result is correct at any time, says Hutter. As soon as the result is known, it will be announced to the citizens and the state.

Majority for Bad Sauerbrunn?
Hutter is confident that the majority will vote in favor of his municipality. The result for Römersee is already available: 92.7 percent would like Bad Sauerbrunn. Of course, the survey is not binding. 

Fear of reprisals
However, some people are afraid to declare their support for Bad Sauerbrunn for fear of reprisals, according to Hutter. The mayor of Wiesen, Matthias Weghofer, made the same accusation towards the spa town: "Mothers and grandmothers are afraid to declare their support for Wiesen because of reprisals in kindergarten. It is also claimed that children in the districts are no longer allowed to go to the kindergarten in Bad Sauerbrunn." In the course of the survey, only selected households that were assumed to vote for Bad Sauerbrunn would be visited. Weghofer believes that the survey form will be taken back unfilled for those who are against the spa town. Hutter strictly rejects this.

Survey until April 15
Weghofer is now considering making house calls himself. He finds it implausible that almost 93 percent of Lake Romansh are in favor of the spa. The survey will run until April 15.