Garda Uno Consortium Expands to 19 Municipalities, Approves 1999 Budget
The number of municipalities participating in Consorzio Garda Uno, the Special Agency, has increased to 19. During the recent General Assembly, the voting members—18 municipalities and the Province of Brescia—unanimously approved the request for admission submitted by Calvagese della Riviera.
During the same Assembly, the Budget forecast for 1999 and the three-year plan for 1999-2000-2001 were also approved unanimously. Before the vote, the Councilor and Vice President of the Special Agency, Dr. Mario Quecchia, delivered the introductory and presentation speech, recalling to those present the “historical path” that has accompanied the Agency from its origins to the present day.
Origins and Development of the Agency
The early 1970s marked the beginning when some Garda municipalities, “for the purpose of safeguarding the ecological health of Lake Garda, decided to establish a Consortium” which was approved by the Prefect of Brescia in September 1974. Currently — emphasized Vice President Quecchia — negotiations are ongoing with other municipalities that have expressed interest in joining the Consortium or otherwise benefiting from its services.
The acceptance of Calvagese’s membership today is a tangible proof of this process.
Services and Management
The latest service implemented by the Agency concerns Solid Waste Collection, which started with three municipalities in the fall of 1997; by January 1, 1998, five more municipalities had joined, including Desenzano del Garda, which recently decided to become a member as well.
Among the most prominent points in the Preliminary Budget for 1999, totaling 29 billion lire, are the management of the Peschiera del Garda wastewater treatment plant (€5,342,528,000) and the collector systems (€5 billion), a series of support activities for the member municipalities, the Technical Office of the Consortium, the Territorial IT Service (€1.5 billion), the management of water supply systems (€2.8 billion), and urban cleanliness (€10 billion).
An additional chapter was also dedicated to image and information management related to the Agency, delegated to Dr. Walter Romagnoli.
Relations and Recommendations
A “proper accounting approach” was highlighted by Eugenio Vitello, member of the Council of Auditors, in his report, who recommended “to formally secure coverage of costs for new services, particularly those related to the territorial IT system and the planning office, before launching these services”.
Contributing to the discussion, the mayors of Sirmione, Mario Arduino, and Gardone Riviera, Belotti, shared the hope that the Special Agency perspective will pay particular attention to the conservation, protection, and image of the natural beauties—”the environmental and tourist heritage of the entire Garda area.”
Final Reflections and Comments
The President of Garda Uno Consortium, Guido Maruelli, expressed great satisfaction at the end of the Assembly, stating, “It was truly rewarding to see a highly participative and motivated Assembly on topics concerning this Agency. An entity that now employs nearly one hundred staff and is beginning to become a key reference point in our territory for our municipalities.”
