Orivesi council approves €60,000 emergency heating grant for campus

On Monday evening Orivesi city council approved a €60,000 grant to the cultural cooperative Pro Orivesi to secure heating deliveries at the Orivesi campus. The decision came after a lengthy debate and a council vote that passed the city board's proposal 24–6, with one abstention. The vote was contentious. Sami Kymäläinen, chair of the Finns Party council group, had proposed that no aid be granted and was supported by National Coalition councillor Marjo Liukkonen. The municipality said the funds, allocated for this year and next, must be used to safeguard winter heating deliveries. The campus had faced the prospect of a heating cut after the district heating company warned it over unpaid bills; friends, private donors and an online crowdfunding campaign have already contributed to cover outstanding costs. The vote follows the city board's September proposal to offer the €60,000 lifeline and comes after a mid-September warning that 25 students would need to move when heating was due to be cut which forced students to relocate. YLE reported on the debate and vote.