<Vysočina> will once again deal with the sale of the former rehabilitation center

Jihlava - The Vysočina Region will again discuss last year's sale of the former Buchtův kopec treatment facility in Žďár. According to the Ministry of the Interior, the region broke the law during the sale and should rectify the situation. The director of the regional office, Zdeněk Kadlec, told regional representatives today that there is currently a possible route of dispute; the other option is to comply with the ministry’s request. The purchase contract has already been signed, and the selected company Bantiko is reportedly making payments according to the region. Kadlec stated that the regional council should discuss the next steps, followed by a decision from the representatives.

The region struggled for a long time to sell the former treatment facility; in September last year, two interested parties began to compete for it. The regional council decided on the sale for 30.5 million crowns to the Brno-based company Bantiko on November 6, eventually selecting from five offers. The unsuccessful applicant filed a complaint regarding the region’s procedure. According to Kadlec, the region has already received about ten million crowns from the selected company. "The payment schedule is being fulfilled,” he said in response to reporters' questions. The entire amount is to be paid by Bantiko by the end of the year.

The dispute is likely related to the manner in which the offer was published. The region sent information to the representatives about the matter, but this item was not included in today's meeting agenda. According to Kadlec, the region had only about a week to address it, as the ministry wanted a statement by March 18.

Jaromír Kalina, a regional representative from the opposition KDU-ČSL, asked whether the region is considering requesting an independent legal opinion. The Christian Democrats criticized the manner of the facility's sale last year.

"If we wanted to go the route of dispute and the regional council leaned towards such an opinion, then it might be appropriate to have some independent assessment,” Kadlec replied.

The region could also declare the resolution invalid and attempt to negotiate withdrawal from the purchase contract, Kadlec added in response to reporters. He also pointed out an agreement whereby, in the event of questioning the validity of this contract, both parties commit to doing everything possible to repeat the sale similarly.

The facility with pavilions and 19 hectares of land could not be sold by the region for about five years; its price was gradually reduced from 50 to 18 million crowns in the tender processes. After two companies began competing for it, the representatives decided in October that additional interested parties could also apply. The November council thus discussed offers ranging from 25 to 38 million crowns. Two interested parties deposited money into the region's account, Bantiko five million crowns and Investate Gama a total of 25 million, which they offered for the sanatorium.