Montichiari Approves Velodrome Project and Discusses City Council Events
Green light for the velodrome project, the large-scale structure destined to become a new flagship for Montichiari, a town that in terms of sports facilities truly represents the capital of the province. The City Council has entrusted Mayor Gianantonio Rosa with the mandate to negotiate with the Provincial Administration the program agreement for the construction of the velodrome, whose inauguration was scheduled for 2004.
It dates back to last summer the resolution of the Provincial Council that financed the important sport facility in Montichiari (the only one in the entire province) with a sum of 2 billion lire. A substantial contribution, the first step towards realizing the facility; the operating costs are expected to be covered by the Municipality of Montichiari, but the involvement of sports clubs and private sponsors is not excluded.
Unexpected moments and controversies in the council
That evening at the town hall, there were also notably unplanned moments. For example, in the middle of the City Council meeting, Lega Nord leader Luigi Lamperti requested a three-minute break to allow the majority councilors to give each minority councilor a panettone.
It was an unexpected gesture and naturally appreciated, adding a touch of Christmas spirit to a council meeting that was otherwise passing without particular tension. Another special moment occurred when Maestro Giuseppe Treccani, who attends every meeting without fail, intervened from the audience, speaking loudly and somewhat annoyed to Council President Rino Dell’Aglio, about his previous comments on the behavior of those present, which he considered (in previous meetings) to be “like football tifos”.
Dell’Aglio had advised moderation to avoid disturbing the work of the councilors. “We are not doormen,” replied the elderly maestro, putting on his hat and threatening to leave the room with his wife. “If the mayor invites us to speak, don’t be offended if we make some noise — it means we’re participating.” Indeed, recent months have seen increasingly crowded City Council meetings (something long hoped for), and some of the public sometimes comment loudly and applaud.
Dell’Aglio quickly approached Treccani for a handshake and dissuaded the veteran partisan from leaving the room. The council also discussed the ‘Isola Verde’ shopping center, which is to be built in the Vighizzolo area, but only to approve definitively the modification related to traffic in the area.
No news, instead, about the potential regional authorization and construction of the center, still competing with the one planned in Lonato, which might be penalized following the ruling of the Corte Costituzionale that declared null the principle of silence-after-response, under which the Lonato master plan had been approved.
Regarding Parco City, Mayor Rosa finally announced that they are evaluating the planting project, submitted to the Municipality at the end of November, “to quickly proceed with the arrangement of the equipped area,” located just steps from the schools and the town hall.
The upcoming highlight for the City Council will surely be Thursday, December 28, when the budget draft for 2001 will be discussed, marking the end of the year.