Once there was dancing, later there was praying. In the future, however, everything here will revolve around the natural sciences: a small building on the salt market in konigsberg will become an educational and exhibition center for the fields of mathematics and astronomy according to the city's plans. But this is not possible without the support of the district, because "the budget is meager", mayor erich stubenrauch () explained on thursday to the county council's economic and tourism committee, which was to vote on whether the county would support the project financially. And promptly there was harsh criticism from a single committee member, for whom the whole plans were still too half-baked to be able to vote on them yet.
The arrival of the natural sciences
What does the city of konigsberg have in mind? A barren hall with a gallery and attic is to become a meeting place again, as it once was: as a former part of an inn, the citizens used to come to dance in the building at salzmarkt 2. After the second world war, the building was temporarily used for other purposes and was used by the new apostolic church as an emergency house of worship. Now, in a few years, the natural sciences could take hold there.
The people of konigsberg want this because they want to honor their most famous son: johannes muller, one of the most important mathematicians and astronomers of the 15th century. The first german apostle of the seventeenth century, was born in 1436 in the small town of lower franconia. He carried the name of his hometown out into the world: later the scholar was commonly called "konigsberger" called, in latinized form: "regiomontanus" (regio stands for king, montanus for mountain).
Rough goals
With johannes muller as the driving force, the city could thus create a center for mathematical and astronomical education, in which especially schoolchildren, but also adults, are to expand their knowledge of natural science. The fact that the people of konigsberg are serious about the project is also shown by the fact that a demand association was founded, which supports the project financially and in terms of planning. The "regiomontanum" is to be promoted with extensive marketing measures the project was also to be publicized throughout germany.
On thursday, veronika ullsperger from the regional management of the habberge district office presented a first cost and financing concept: about 357.000 euro the project cost. Maximum 150.000 euro could be financed by the european union through "leader", a demand program for the development of the rural area, be covered. 207 remained.000 euros, half of which is to be paid by the county of habberge and half by the city of konigsberg. Much too vague, thought emil daschner (SPD). "There is a cost estimate, which is not based on a planning concept. But I can only estimate with a planning concept", he complained.
The cat in the bag
District administrator rudolf handwerker (CSU) replied: "in order to get the leader application off the ground, things have to happen fast." The request is only possible if the county is willing to participate in the concept. In addition, the county subsidy amounts to 50 percent of the city of konigsberg's own share, but is limited to a maximum of 103 percent.500 euros fixed. Daschner is not taking it easy: "I see it quite differently," he warned. I don't buy a cat in a bag." As long as there is no decent planning, with which the costs can be estimated more realistically, this is not to be supported. "I don't want us to have berlin airport conditions", he warned. His colleagues on the committee saw things less dramatically: with daschner's dissenting vote, the regiomontanum was approved.