How much did the municipality pay for the plants at the fountain? ERGO responds

The Maria and Lech Kaczyński Municipal Park opened after renovations in early June of this year. When a concrete shape began to emerge at the construction site in spring, it seemed that much of the park's entrance would be completely concreted over. The old fountain disappeared, replaced by a modern structure. Concrete slabs replaced the lawns, and the trees and shrubs that had previously grown there disappeared forever. However, it later turned out that the plants would be there. In May, we inquired about the costs associated with the plantings. A response came two months later.

As a reminder, the reconstruction of the fountain, square, and entrance to the city park was carried out under a single tender. It was announced in a rather unusual and strange manner. How? Several projects were lumped into one basket, i.e., one contract. These included: the construction of recreational and sports facilities on Czereśniowa Street, the second phase of the revitalization of the Maria and Lech Kaczyński City Park, the construction of the second phase of the sewer system and road in Nowy Dwór, the modernization of the road in Ujeździec Mały, and the reconstruction of the road in Koniów. This was puzzling because if the tasks had been carried out as separate tenders, there could have been significantly more bidders and the prices (perhaps) would have been lower. Putting everything into one basket resulted in only three large companies, all of which have the necessary resources to handle such an investment, submitting their bids. Interestingly, the bids were very similar, and Berger Bau Polska won the tender.

At the end of March, we published drone photos on the NOWAGAZETA.pl website, which showed the fountain and its surroundings as a massive concrete mass. The article generated numerous comments indicating that residents were not happy with the situation. Suddenly, after the article was published, something changed. Workers began dismantling the concrete slabs they had carefully laid. Within a few days, large tree seedlings, shrubs, flowers, and rolled grass appeared on the construction site. When we checked the order, we discovered that greenery was indeed to be planted around the fountain, but the work had been excluded from the tender. Although Berger Bau was responsible for the park's redevelopment, workers from the municipal company arrived on the site and began planting.

We submitted questions regarding the planting of greenery near the newly constructed fountain to the Municipality on May 26th. A response, dated July 24th, arrived at the end of the month. ERGO informed us that the Municipal Utilities Department ERGO performed the planting, based on an agreement signed with the Municipality of Trzebnica on April 3rd, 2025. According to the document, the Municipality entrusts the company with year-round maintenance of parks and green areas. On June 9th, 2025, an amendment to the agreement was signed. Pursuant to paragraph 1 of the amendment, the Company is to plant trees, shrubs, and other plants purchased by the Municipality at its own expense or by the Company at the Municipality's expense.

ERGO responded that "The works consisting in planting the plants were performed using the Company's equipment and by the Company's employees under the employment contracts concluded with them."

Planting costs

* purchase of trees, shrubs and flowers - PLN 88,903.47

* pine bark company PLN 3,678.50

* land - PLN 3,796.54

* stakes and garden tape - PLN 615.20

* irrigation system - PLN 278.89

* soil transport service - PLN 13,025

* removal of rubble soil - PLN 2,760.

In total, the plantings cost the Commune PLN 156,261.11.

ERGO has attached invoices for the purchased plants and other accessories. They state that, among other things, 18 magnolias were purchased for PLN 29,700 (PLN 1,650 each) and five plane trees for PLN 4,500 (PLN 900 each). Four Dutch elms cost PLN 7,144 (PLN 1,786 each). Several hundred roses of various species were also purchased, priced around PLN 30 each, as well as numerous other shrubs and flowers. The invoices provided by ERGO also include the cost of building and installing the pergola. This totals PLN 8,425.50.

We were also interested in the cost of dismantling the concrete slabs, which were first installed and then removed. Our final question addressed this issue. ERGO responded that "the company did not dismantle the concrete slabs and therefore does not have the requested information."