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BLACK TOWN: Ullensaker Mayor Eyvind Jørgensen Schumacher (Labor Party) thinks it will be wrong if his township is still the culprit after this weekend’s quarantine hotel chaos. Photo: Helge Mikalsen
There has been chaos at the fully quarantined hotels in Gardermoen this weekend. The mayor of Ullensaker says they have notified the Ministry of Justice of such a situation for a long time, without being listened to.
– I think it will be wrong that the municipality of Ullensaker is black money after what happened this weekend, says Mayor Eyvind Jørgensen Schumacher (Labor) to VG.
By Friday night, both quarantined hotels in Gardermoen were full and several were told they had to share a room. Councilman Raymond Johansen called the situation “unreal.”
The following day, 155 passengers were told to make it to a new quarantine hotel in Oslo on their own.
KARANTENEHOTELL: Comfort Hotel catwalk. Photo: Stian Lysberg Solum
– It’s a lot for a small municipality
Ullensaker Mayor Eyvind Jørgensen Schumacher (Labor Party) believes that the Ministry of Justice and the Directorate for Civil Protection and Emergency Planning (DSB) should take the step.
He says they have notified DSB several times that a situation like the one on Friday could occur.
– Ullensaker has been given a great responsibility with safety, transportation and testing, it is a lot for a small municipality.
He says that the municipality has an enormous responsibility and that many work day and night.
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The municipality has spent NOK 30 million in connection with quarantined hotels in the past two months, and the mayor believes that it has not been clarified whether the money should be compensated.
– It’s an incredible amount of money for a municipality with 40,000 inhabitants, says Schumacher.
– We need to know that they assure us that the invoice goes to them.
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Hotels in full quarantine in Gardermoen – They had to organize transport to Oslo.
Furthermore, it lacks the powers to create predictability. He considers that it would be natural for the Ministry of Justice, for example, to authorize the municipality to rent a certain number of rooms three months in advance.
– On Friday many people came without us having a place. DSB and the Ministry of Justice must take this seriously.
Ministry of Justice: covered by the state
The Ministry of Justice believes that they have been clear all along that they are the ones who pay the bill, and they experience that the municipality of Ullensaker has done a good job.
– I would like to remind you that the government, since the quarantine hotel plan was established, has established that the expenses of the municipalities must be covered by the state. We are working to complete the repayment plan now, writes Secretary of State Lars Jacob Hiim (H) in an email to VG.
– Could you not assume that the government should pay, as they have previously announced?
– We do not receive any written guarantee on that, replies the mayor of Ullensaker.
Schumacher says it has generally been difficult to engage in dialogue with the Justice Ministry about the challenges.
– The impression left by the municipality is wrong when in reality it is the Ministry of Justice that does not assume responsibility. We have not received a response nor have we been heard. We are not able to establish a good dialogue and get confirmation, and we are completely dependent on that.
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Schumacher lists a number of challenges that they have not responded to:
– We have to have an agreement with the hotels beforehand and have health and safety personnel there. Hotels also want to know how many rooms are in question and how far in advance it applies. They also need to plan how long they will be open and how many staff are needed, says Schumacher.
We chatted together on Sunday night
On Sunday afternoon, the mayor received confirmation from Justice Minister Monica Mæland that the bill will be sent to the Ministry of Justice.
– He said he understood well the situation we were in and that we should be able to send them all the invoices. He said they also understand the unpredictability we have, says Schumacher.
– Is the problem solved now?
– I am optimistic. The political leadership realizes the problem and that it is necessary to establish some routines that make it more predictable for us that we face this enormous task.
– It is fantastic when we see that there is a will to solve the problem. It really was a happy ending.
