Day: Development plan

  • Council meeting of 19 November 2025

    Council meeting of 19 November 2025

    In the recent municipal council meeting, topics were discussed in numerous agenda items (TOP), which are also important in the new year. We summarize the most important points from the public session.

    TOP 1: Announcements

    The mayor informed about several decisions from the non-public part of the meeting, including decisions on land sales. In addition, the planned funds for the purchase of further land in the new development area ‘Oberm Kappesgarten’ are to be deferred for the time being.

    In addition, it was announced that one of the previous hunting tenants is withdrawing from the contract. This means that only one hunting tenant will be contractually bound for Dernbach in the future.

    Item 2: Establishment plan of the municipality

    On 1 January 2026, a new gardening post is to be advertised. At the same time, two existing part-time jobs will be cut in 2026.

    Since many community workers are of a similar age, several age-related retirements are to be expected in the next three years. In order to allow for the necessary training periods flexibly, an additional position should be taken into account – in return, an existing position will be omitted thereafter.

    This means that the community should be well prepared for the upcoming developments in terms of personnel.

    TOP 3: Emergency generator für the Municipalitycentre

    Funding is available for the purchase of an emergency power generator, which costs around € 28,000 plus feed-in and other parts of the system, until 31. 12. We need to apply for 2025.

    The community center is to be upgraded as an emergency meeting point in order to strengthen the crisis preparedness of the community.

    TOP 4: Tax levies – revenue-neutral adjustment decided

    Without an adjustment of the tax levies, losses in tax revenues would be around 18 percent. % was to be expected. This would have had serious consequences, including possible disadvantages in general allocations (practically compensatory payments from the Land).

    The Council has therefore adopted a proposal to compensate for the tax losses caused by the reform of the property tax, which some Council members have referred to as a ‘socially acceptable variant’.

    We regret that no action was taken in May – we had already pointed out the tax shortfalls at that time. For example, the 2025 budget slipped even more into deficit.

    Item 5: Development plan ‘Upper Cap Garden“

    The current draft development plan was unanimously approved. The plans are now entering the next phase, and the documents will be made available for public inspection.

    TOP 6: Development plan ‘Cross-border route“

    The outstanding formal objections of various organisations and companies were heard. However, they have no relevance for the execution of the construction project.

    TOP 7: Firewood prices

    In the future, the release of firewood will take place exclusively in solid meters, no longer in room meters.

    For orientation: 5 room meters correspond to about 3.5 solid meters.

    The Land’s price fixing – €73 per fixed meter – was taken over and unanimously adopted by the municipal council.

    TOP 8: Meadow of orchards – Request from Joint für Dernbach

    Our application to clarify the care responsibility of the orchard was discussed.

    The area serves as a compensatory measure for the ‘Steinkaut’. Research by the local mayor also revealed that additional trees had to be planted in the course of the ‘Südring’ construction area.

    The municipality will now check the actual care costs.

    A local visit by the municipal council is planned for 2026.

    Preparatory work and further elaboration will be carried out by the Construction Committee.

    TOP 9: notifications

    The work on fiber optic expansion is coming to an end. However, many errors of the previously used subcontractors still need to be corrected, which is why the remaining work will still be carried out.

    The transfer of the network to Vodafone is planned for 2026.

  • Open Group meeting on 17 August 2025

    Open Group meeting on 17 August 2025

    On Sunday 17 August 2025, our open Group meeting took place. Some citizens took part and brought in their questions and suggestions – from the future of the youth space to the fairgrounds and the ‘Kappesgarten’ building area.

    Review of our committee work

    At the beginning, we presented an overview of the ongoing work of the committees as well as the main topics of the last Council meeting of 18 June 2025.

    Suggestions from Citizenship

    Afterwards, we asked the participants for feedback and asked the questions:
    What is important to you? Where does the shoe press? What should the municipal council deal with?

    There was a lively discussion. Among other things, the following were mentioned:

    • The impression that little has developed in the place for decades.
    • Insufficient shops.
    • Questions about the current state of the Building area ‘Kappesgarten’.
    • The idea of having the dismantled telephone booth creatively designed by young people.
    • The desire for more Exchange of information.
    • The feeling of being left alone with some problems.

    Youth room

    Also the Youth room It was discussed in the discussion. As ‘Together for Dernbach’, we are committed – including across political groups – to ensuring that the Youth Space is filled with new ideas, is better known and accepted . Mentioned Days of action for young people and parents or joint activities such as cooking activities – as one of several ways to foster encounter and community.

    Celebration and Jubilee 2026

    The fair is a highlight for Dernbach in the course of the year: three days celebration including live music, rides, stalls and many encounters of locals and guests.

    In order for it to continue to be a positive experience for everyone in the future, good preparation, including the participation of the community, is crucial. This includes:

    • Transparency and communication in advance – so that local residents know at an early stage which processes are planned.
    • accessibility – Ways and accesses should be designed in such a way that older people and people with disabilities can easily participate.
    • Transport and construction planning – local traffic must be affected as little as possible, but local residents should at least be able to rely on specific information and procedures.
    • It is already the case that the Jubilee 2026 keep in mind that an attractive program can be expected, which must be accompanied by the community.

    Construction projects and shopping opportunities

    An associate informed the participants, upon request, that a development of the construction area was not possible until the end of the year. 2027/28 It's realistic. This raises understanding, but also expectations – we stick to the topic.

    According to our information stand, the opening of the still to be built supermarket including bakery and beverage market on Ebernhahner Straße is delayed and should take about a year.

    traffic

    We informed that from now on the Bus (line 420 Hachenburg/Selters to Montabaur) Dernbach arrives every hour on Saturdays. Although this is outside the immediate area of responsibility of the municipality, the improvement is also welcome in the sense of people who like to use public transport or are dependent on it.

    payphone

    There is no longer a telephone booth in Dernbach. From the round, the suggestion was renewed that a public bookcase be set up and that young people could take over the design.

    Katharina Kasper and the Heilborner Linde

    Another suggestion, which has reached us in advance by e-mail, concerns the St. Catherine Kasper. In the meeting, it was added that a citizen kept wooden parts of the several hundred-year-old linden tree, which had recently been damaged and felled by a thunderstorm.

    Here it is important to follow up on ideas: For example, pieces of jewellery or memorabilia made of wood, but also ways to make the history and meaning of Katharina Kasper more visible for Dernbach – for example through a monument or an information board at the birthplace, a brochure, a theme day, etc. One Coordination with participating groups, including the monastery, appears to be expedient here.

    outlook

    The meeting showed: There are many topics that move the Dernbachers. Especially the Reviving the Youth Space and the Preparation of the fair 2026 They will keep us busy.

    We would like to thank all participants for their open contributions and suggestions. Only in a joint conversation do ideas emerge that advance our place.

  • Council meeting of 18 June 2025

    Council meeting of 18 June 2025

    Last Wednesday, the most recent meeting of the municipal council took place. This was discussed and decided in the public session.

    TOP 1: Announcement of decisions taken in closed session

    This point was omitted due to the lack of guests present.

    Item 2: Drainage management - Decision adopted unanimously

    The municipal council unanimously approved the planned relocation of a drainage line. The drainage is to run parallel to Dr. Domarus Street. In the discussion, Roswitha posed the question of whether the drainage corrects the cause of the moisture and is effective, especially since the terrain was rather dry before the sewer works.
    The mayor explained that water is now regularly collected at this point. The aim is not to lower the groundwater as a whole, but only to discharge superficial congestion specifically through drainage with drains.
    A member of the CDU Council supported the measure, as did Manuel, who considered the course of the planned drainage to be useful on the basis of the topography. In the absence of expertise and further information in the Council's proposal, only the planning approach of the experts can be trusted.
    The local mayor added that there was a problem with the previous drainage – for example, the water from the upper field is currently flowing directly into the rain retention basin.

    TOP 3: Amendment of the Cemetery Statute – unanimously adopted

    The Council unanimously adopted a revised cemetery statute. What is new, in particular, is that the costs for the preparation of the grave have now been officially recorded.
    Roswitha asked whether §15(1) was deleted – that is not the case. Instead, the name ‘Urnenrasengrab’ has been clarified: It is now called ‘Urnenrasenreihegrab’.
    Stainless steel signs are created by a local supplier.
    Stefan asked if the municipality also offers funeral services. The mayor made it clear: The municipality only provides the burial places – the entrustment of a burial place is carried out by the relatives.
    A CDU council member inquired about a possible reappointment of a undertaker by the municipality. The local mayor informed that a call for tenders is planned. In this respect, Alessa clarified that only contracts for excavation (for excavation between municipalities and the contractor) are made. There is no village-own undertaker, as everyone can choose the undertaker freely.

    TOP 4: Communications and enquiries

    • Walk to the hospital: The mayor announced to gravel the footpath from the former fairground in the direction of Peter-Dausenau-Straße / Brückenstraße.
    • Park area: Once again, the mayor expressed his desire to plan a small park in this area. This would also be in line with the development plan.
    • Parking regulations Kirchstraße: The municipality plans to apply for a three-hour parking scheme.
    • Care of the footpaths: A member of the CDU council suggested cutting back the vegetation on two heavily overgrown footpaths. The mayor stressed that he would examine the responsibility for this.
    • Parking behaviour: There was a general discussion about the parking behavior in the place, especially in confusing or dangerous places.
    • Burgweg: The Department of Public Order regularly monitors the area. However, the number of administrative offences imposed is in the low range. Due to the marking work carried out, it is possible to work here in a more targeted and legally secure manner.
    • Citizen's breakfast: Alessa reminded that the construction was to be organized. Some members of the council agreed to take action.
  • News from the Municipal Council 2/2025

    News from the Municipal Council 2/2025

    On Wednesday last week, the most recent meeting of the Dernbach municipal council took place. Our group Together for Dernbach This time, too, he has been involved and accompanied some important issues critically, but constructively. Here is an overview of the items on the agenda:

    Item 1: Announcement of non-public decisions

    The mayor informed about two decisions from the non-public part. Both concern property matters.

    Item 2: Budget 2025

    A key issue was the 2025 budget. As the mayor explained, this is not balanced. The main reasons are upcoming investments and increased expenses, especially for the day care centre, which is run by the Diocese of Limburg. The increased payments are retroactive and affect several municipalities.

    The focus was on the following investment items, among others:

    • €663,250 for land purchases in the new construction area Cap garden. Some of these investments are to be more than counterfinanced by subsequent land sales.
    • Expansion of Ebernhahner Straße in the area of the future Norma-Markts (walking path, crossing aid, turning lane).
    • Participation in Martin-Luther-Straße (extension to Dernbach area), which has already been expanded by the city of Wirges.
    • Creation of the Friedgarten, which could be implemented more cost-effectively through own contribution and donations.
    • Setting up an emergency meeting point, in particular by means of an emergency generator. A grant of €7,500 was granted for this purpose. The discussion revolved, among other things, around the question of which equipment an emergency meeting point should at least have (e.g. heat supply), with the mayor stressing that no high quality of stay is foreseen.

    Another point was the second purchase price for the community centre.

    Our group welcomed the planned investments in principle, but called for a careful assessment of the financial situation. Manuel emphasized that the upholstery built in recent years has now been largely used up. It is true that around €100,000 per year is left for investment – a positive aspect. At the same time, it pointed to possible risks, such as if expected revenues (e.g. from land sales) were lower. A conscious use of the available resources therefore remains important.

    Item 3: Tax rates 2025

    The background of the consultation was the real estate tax reform, through which Dernbach will in future be around €54,000 less revenue has to expect. To compensate for this decline, the property tax would have to be increased by about 100 percentage points. However, the mayor proposed to wait for further development first.

    Stefan Görg pointed out that differentiated lifting rates – e.g. for undeveloped land – are also possible and thus the aim can be pursued to close building gaps more quickly. This variant was rejected by the CDU faction with inconsistent arguments about a possible increase (heirs would be burdened). This is despite the fact that – just under a year ago – she was the only political group to have voted in favour of such a model herself. There was also talk of not putting more money into the pockets of citizens, which is not comprehensible in the context of the decline in revenue. The CDU group leader also referred to an increase a few years ago and spoke out against a further increase.

    Manuel criticized the waiting so far and the contradictory reasoning: The amount of a revenue-neutral increase had already been known since the end of last year and forward-looking planning would have been appropriate. The non-adjustment of the rates de facto means that the municipality's financial room for manoeuvre is noticeably reduced. Ultimately, it was decided by a majority to leave the lifting rates unchanged for the time being. There were four abstentions.

    Item 4: Amendment of the Cemetery Fee Regulations

    The cemetery fee regulations have been adapted to reflect the newly created possibility of urn graves in the Friedgarten. The mayor presented the planned fees orally (approximately €800) and compared them with other municipalities of the Verbandsgemeinde. He stated that the administration could not have prepared a cost calculation in time.

    Stefan and Roswitha criticized in particular the lack of written draft resolution and short-term information. Unlike the CDU parliamentary group, Together for Dernbach had not been informed in advance. Especially when it comes to a sensitive topic such as funeral fees and a change in the statutes, we consider transparent and sufficient preparation to be essential.

    As far as the matter was concerned, we considered a moderate fee to be acceptable in principle. Manuel pointed out that no funeral form is cost-covering and a reasonable orientation value makes sense.

    Despite these concerns, the amendment to the statutes was adopted unanimously; There were two abstentions.

    Item 5: Photovoltaic system for the nursery

    The planned photovoltaic system on the roof of the day care center was unanimously approved. The planned self-consumption makes the project economically viable in the long term – profitability is currently estimated to be achieved after about 11 years. Funding is also expected. A future agreement with the kindergarten for the use of the generated electricity is conceivable.

    Item 6: Population Question Hour

    A resident suggested posthumously appointing a deceased person as an honorary citizen of Dernbach. The mayor accepted the proposal and announced that he would discuss the matter with relatives.

    Item 7: Communications and enquiries

    In the last part of the meeting, several topical issues were raised:

    • Fibre optic expansion: The course so far has been critically commented on. The delays continue and the execution is partial and still deficient. The mayor announced that he would check with the relevant authorities. Since it is a self-employed project of Vodafone, according to the VG administration, there are only limited rights of intervention.
    • Level crossing main road: The road surface should be repaired if the train traffic is suspended due to construction work. The state authority for mobility has not yet given any feedback on this.
    • Photo mountain: This is to be used again as a photo location. According to a request, the vegetation should also be removed and the wall painted.
    • Invasive plant species Hercules perennial: It was announced that possible countermeasures are under consideration.
    • Industrial area: An associate asked about remaining development opportunities. The administration is examining the situation.
    • Noise pollution from railway announcements: One member of the Council was critical of this.
    • Access road Grillhütte: When asked by a council member, the mayor admitted that the path serves as a rescue access to the emergency exit of the ICE tunnel.

    conclusion

    The meeting once again showed: Dernbach faces significant challenges, both financially and infrastructurally. Our group Together for Dernbach will continue to work to ensure that decisions are well prepared, comprehensible and made for the benefit of all citizens. We see open communication and early involvement of all political groups as a central prerequisite for functioning community work.

  • News from the Municipal Council 1/2025

    News from the Municipal Council 1/2025

    On 5 February 2025, the most recent meeting of the local council of Dernbach took place – we were fully represented with all six political group members. Important issues for our village were on the agenda.

    Development plan Ebernhahner Straße: A new supermarket for Dernbach

    A central theme was the development plan in Ebernhahner Straße. The plan is to establish a Norma supermarket with a beverage market and bakery. Representatives of the association municipality administration and the planning office presented the extensive planning documents as well as the suggestions received.

    In response to questions from our group, the following points have been clarified:

    • The sales area remains within the limits of small-scale retail.
    • A rainwater retention basin is intended to relieve the wastewater system and is designed for a five-year flood.
    • The development plan also allows other commercial uses if the situation changes in the future.

    A CDU member asked if competitors could sue the supermarket. The experts considered this possible, but not necessarily promising. In the end, the local council voted with an abstention for the development plan.

    Electricity and gas supply contracts: Opting for green electricity

    The mayor presented the planned tender for electricity and gas supply contracts for the years 2026-2028. In doing so, the municipality was able to decide whether it would like to purchase normal or green electricity.

    A short discussion revolved around the additional costs for green electricity, which a CDU member questioned due to limited financial leeway. Details of the amount were not known, so Manuel looked into the budget in order to arrive at a rather medium three-digit amount in the rough assessment of the financial impact. The Council decided unanimously to purchase green electricity.

    Friedgarten: A park-like area with urn collection graves

    Another topic was the planning of a cemeteries garden with urn collection graves. The original plans have been revised, in particular on burial forms, routing and costs. Since the council members had not received an updated cost statement or a draft resolution in advance, Manuel enquired with the association municipality administration, but was referred to the mayor.

    The plans remained partly unclear or were changed, so that there were still open questions that Alessa raised:

    • How many urn graves are to be created in which tomb form?
    • Are personnel costs of the building site to be planned?
    • Do the fees cover the running costs as well as part of the construction costs?

    Alessa came up with the idea of having the Friedgarten run as a cooperative in order to relieve the community of organizational and risk. A potential operator was already envisaged, but this proposal was not followed up.

    Stefan G. pointed out that grave maintenance is subject to VAT and Manuel asked whether a business of a commercial nature should be established. Both were denied by the CDU faction.

    Although points remained unclear, including whether the planned urn graves would be accepted at all (which is not the case in neighbouring municipalities), the Council agreed to the project with six abstentions.

    Further decisions at a glance

    • Barrier-free conversion of the toilet in the town hall: Adopted unanimously.
    • Fire protection measures in the community centre: A fire-retardant wall is to separate the ground floor and the basement.

    The Council unanimously agreed, further accessibility measures and an additional emergency exit are still being planned. Stefan G. asked about the refurbishment of the bowling alley, whereupon the mayor reported with pleasure that it was now fully functional again.

    Citizen enquiries: Digital booking of the community center?

    One citizen enquired about the possibility of booking rooms in the community center online. The mayor rejected this on the grounds that accounting conflicts were better solvable by analogy. In addition, the community center is not a clubhouse, so club bookings are not given preferential treatment. This was criticized by a CDU council member, as this should have been communicated to the clubs earlier.

    Conclusion: The meeting brought important decisions for the municipality, but in some areas outstanding issues remained. Especially with the Friedgarten, a more early and detailed planning would have been helpful. Alessa pointed out that informed preparation would have facilitated decision-making. Nevertheless, landmark decisions could be taken – first and foremost the decision for green electricity and the creation of a new supermarket.