Garda Uno Buys Former Padenghe Bank for New Operational Headquarters
Garda Uno has purchased a bank. The special consortium company, which handles lake water purification, urban solid waste collection, beach cleaning, water supply and sewerage management, etc., has decided to buy the building of the former Banca del Garda, located in Padenghe, at via Barbieri 20, opposite the town hall. “A reinforced concrete building, close to the coastal state road, and in a central location, equipped with parking” – explained Franco Richetti, the general manager of the consortium, which includes all the municipalities of the western Riviera and the Provincial Administration –. It has a commercial area of about 2,300 square meters (actually more than three thousand), with an underground vault, three levels, and a mezzanine. On the ground floor, we plan to have public spaces; on the other floors, offices and management. Above, the technical sector, utilizing part of the very large meeting hall (which seats 200).”
Property details and investment
The cost? Almost three billion lira, precisely two billion and 850 million. That is: about 1.3 million lire per square meter. Years ago, the credit institution merged with Bcc di Montichiari, and the central office in Padenghe had to be downsized, reducing to a simple local branch. Employees still occupy the structure, but in the future, they will move to a nearby, smaller building.
Garda Uno, which initially operated in the Gasparo complex in Salò, then moved to the former elementary school in Portese (approximately 500 square meters), is now making another leap. This was made necessary by the ongoing increase in activity, as well as the number of employees: in 2001, they will reach 141.
The representative of Palazzo Broletto, Mauro Parolini, and all the mayors or their delegates accepted the proposal from President Guido Maruelli and the Board of Directors. Regarding payment, a leasing plan was chosen. Although on paper it appears more costly (monthly installment of 34 million plus VAT, over ten years, with a total expenditure of four billion and 100 million), this option offers more advantageous tax benefits, as they are spread over shorter periods compared to purchasing with a mortgage (installments of around 32.5 million, totaling about three billion and 910 million).
Financial situation and legal issues
With the approval of the 2001 budget forecast, which we will discuss later (Lonato was the only abstention), the assembly debated the transformation of the special company into a joint-stock company. The bill pending in Parliament, which includes a series of simplifications and benefits, is unlikely to be approved before the end of the current legislature. As a result, the situation remains frozen.
What to do: wait or push to accelerate the process of changing the legal form? This topic will be further examined in a series of meetings, especially because an assessment of assets and the division of shares will be necessary: maintaining the current relationships, initially based on population, or redefining them, considering the services?
For now, the municipalities have two months to submit their comments on the draft statute prepared. Also frozen is the request for accession to the consortium submitted by the Desenzano retirement home (Opera pia S. Angela Merici). “They would like to entrust us, in particular, with the maintenance of the plants and heat management, a sector we intend to enter. By accepting, we could gain some experience,” said Richetti.
Others responded negatively until the transformation into a joint-stock company occurs. Maruelli: “The statute obliges us to provide services only to our members. The request from Opera pia is interesting and should be considered.” Ultimately, the matter was postponed. Furthermore, it must be verified whether the Ipab, a non-territorial institutional body, can join this consortium of municipalities.