A conversation with Dainis Vingris, Chairman of the Koknese Municipality Council

How are things with entrepreneurs and business activity in Koknese Municipality?

The municipality is quite economically active; after a quieter period, business and other activities have revived. Looking at and planning next year's budget, we found a positive indicator – personal income tax revenue in the municipality has increased by 8%! For our neighbours, this figure is falling, while ours is rising! The number of taxpayers is also increasing. Population migration figures in the municipality are levelling out (of course, there are parishes where the population is decreasing, but I am talking about the municipality as a whole); there are not many available flats and houses, and finding a vacant and 'obtainable' plot of land for production needs is not simple either. So... The talk circulating about poor municipalities and the wealthy Pierīga region is unfounded, because... What is often seen in the Pierīga region? Housing developments built in a meadow or on drained land, whose inhabitants, for example, work in the state forest system or for Latvenergo. The forest and the waters of the Daugava create this apparent prosperity. Can we only talk about prosperity in this context?

Of course, in Koknese, we have castle ruins with a park, there is the Garden of Destiny (Likteņdārzs), but our municipality is also home to, for example, the production facility where the nationally known 'Ievas siers' is made (in Vecsiljāņi), and large-scale farmers are busy, the produce of whom ends up on the tables of many Latvians, perhaps without them knowing the nuances! Of course, I know the local entrepreneurs and farmers very well, but not every detail! While visiting 'Dobeles dzirnavnieks', I was asked: 'Do you know where we get our oats from?' It turns out that the oats for 'Dobeles dzirnavnieks' oat flakes come from us – from 'Bormaņi' in Koknese Municipality!

So it can be said: has the number of residents in Koknese stabilised and the mass departure eased?

It looks like, as I mentioned, we will soon start to run short of flats. It must be said that the situation regarding residential space has formed and developed in an interesting way. During the first crisis, when there was the so-called 'first wave of departures' (2008–2009), many left – we estimate about 30%. What happened to the flats of those who left? They were either left empty, or the owners, already living elsewhere, rented them out. Over time, people from Meņģele and Gulbene started coming to Koknese to work; they began renting the empty flats, maintaining them, paying rent, but they were not registered in our municipality! Their children, of course, attend local schools and kindergartens. What the future plans of these families are, we do not know, but we do understand that there are not many empty flats left, the kindergartens are full, and we are approaching the threshold where we need to start planning something new!

As a rural municipality, jobs are, have been, and will always be important to us! How to get them, how to develop things? For example, there used to be a collective farm (kolkhoz) that employed 300 people. Now there is a large-scale farmer, several tractors, a lot of land, but he is satisfied with five or six employees. What are the other 294 supposed to do? Either head to Ireland or find something suitable right here.

Another story – over the years, the situation has developed in such a way that, here in the Koknese area, a sufficient number of people have been employed in the education system – in small rural schools, as well as in the parishes – in local government. It is as if the 'social effect' has now turned into a 'social defect'. Now, it is often said that it is the 'mayors, municipal employees, their friends, families and allies' who are protesting against or objecting to the territorial reform – those for whom the small municipality provides some benefit. I personally did not participate in the protests against the reform, but people from the municipality went to Riga. My position does not 'tether' me, but it is a pity that many things could be 'ruined' as a result of the reform, because in the new situation, plans may change. For example, Koknese's streets – at one time we started with an idea, and it has been continued until now – every year we completely reconstruct one street in the town! Of course, we look for ways and opportunities to carry out this work using cheaper and high-quality technologies. It is possible!

We have already started talking about this. What about the territorial reform and the plans for it?

With the territorial reform, it is like this: the conversation with ministry representatives regarding our municipality took place in Aizkraukle. I had the opportunity to speak for a whole three minutes. What I managed to say, I said; the main point was the preservation of town status for Koknese. Another meeting took place in Nereta, where I did not get a word in: 'We'll talk to you when we are in Koknese!' So be it! I did not get an answer: 'What exactly are you offering us?' I would be sorry if the reform were implemented too rapidly, something was closed quickly, people left for other places in search of work, something changed and then: 'Sorry, that was not successful! It should have been done differently...' Who exactly would be responsible for that, and where would the organisers and authors be then? There is a mixed attitude in municipalities; there are people who say: 'It will be bad! But if you have decided to do it, do it! Just don't blame us for the result!'

It must be taken into account that municipalities differ from one another – in the Valmiera and Smiltene areas, a lot is happening in a way that is understandable and successful, elsewhere that is not the case, and in other places, there are their own specific current issues! If Rūjiena, for example, is strictly annexed to Valka Municipality, it is hard to say whether anything good will come of it! Our model – Aizkraukle, Koknese, Skrīveri – is a quite densely populated territory, we know each other, and I do not see major problems! Concerns might be about the small details (as I already mentioned), which for some are not small at all! For example, development centres and their status! If an entrepreneur has a production facility in Koknese and, having familiarised themselves with the documents, is planning to attract European funding, it might turn out that the money is not provided for and is not due here due to formal reasons. It seems insignificant, but for the entrepreneur and for Koknese – it is important!

I do not see major changes in the reform. The only thing is that with a more definite concentration of powers and administration, there will be opportunities to increase the number of good specialists needed by the municipality and pay them higher salaries! For example, specialists in development and land issues – if their salaries are not increased, they will definitely find a better and higher-paid place!

There is also the question of cash flows. I think that the first two or three years after the reform will be marked by a certain decline in financial opportunities, because not much is being promised from European funds, municipalities will have 'spent themselves' on necessary things until the 2021 elections, and one must also add the current economic processes, for example, the drop in timber prices and a certain reduction in industrial production volumes. With all this happening at approximately the same time, one must reckon with a certain amount of public dissatisfaction. The parties hoping for the next – the 14th Saeima – will have to think a lot about changing and correcting the situation! Because – another important nuance – after the previous reform 10 years ago, the system has finally stabilised somewhat (though not everywhere)! In the new, large municipalities, there is a greater chance of electing 6–7 parties to the councils, which will start squabbling and 'sawing at' each other. Already now there are municipalities where councillors do not have time for work, but they do have time for writing letters to repressive institutions. This situation creates a reluctance on the part of people to take risks, and many things are dragged out.

What about your neighbours, with whom you are planned to be merged, how have you cooperated so far?

The cooperation between the municipalities to date is quite successful – we have the Building Authority in Koknese, and the sports school in Aizkraukle. Entrepreneurs operate in the same way, and for farmers, the biggest issue (which is naturally limited) is land! If one can put it this way: they are fighting for land! There is little free land left in the municipality. At one time, the municipality had about 300 hectares (of free land) that we lease out. It is important that it does not become overgrown, that it is used, but, on the other hand, the tenant is not ready to invest their own, and quite substantial, funds into land that they do not own themselves.

Regarding the Garden of Destiny (Likteņdārzs)...

We gave up the land for the Garden of Destiny in favour of the state. There were various reasons for this, but the most essential one was financial! If the territory and management of the garden were the sole responsibility of the municipality, we would not be able to 'carry' it. The Garden of Destiny is significant, but a very expensive undertaking! Of course, the municipality participates in the Council of the Garden of Destiny; there is now a new head of the council, Sandra Kalniete, with experience, contacts and energy, and I think that can only be for the good! There is, of course, still a lot of work to do, but that is also understandable because everything is planned and developed in the long term and for future generations. The town has excellent cooperation with 'Latvijas valsts meži', which 'looks after' the Garden of Destiny and a part of the castle ruin park, while the other part is under the supervision of the municipality.

Does the municipality own forest?

Koknese Municipality owns 900 hectares of forest. We manage it, harvest it, and sell it. We look for the most advantageous option for the municipality. Of course, we face the current issues taking place in the country; our forests have undergone habitat mapping, and the lesser spotted eagle has been found. We are trying to understand and sense what and how things should be done in the forests in the future.

How about the local schools? That is yet another reform.

There are four schools in the municipality. In 'Bormaņi' there is a development centre, which has specific requirements, but it is a good place of employment. There is a school in Irši with 35 pupils, and in Bebri with 90. In Koknese Secondary School, the number of pupils is starting to increase – there will now be about 400. There is a sports centre with a dormitory, and a swimming pool is there as well. I know that many in Latvia do not 'like' swimming pools, but for us, it operates on commercial principles, and the residents are satisfied.