Ettenheim in March 2026: Highlights from Politics, Culture and Infrastructure

Citizen-Oriented: What Was Important This Month

• New ways for the City Library: The city library will move to the new media center at Friedrichstraße 38 in May 2026 and will henceforth be open for 22 instead of 17 weekly hours.
• Renovations at the Cemeteries: The children's cemetery and the gardener-maintained cemetery IV will receive new paths to ensure the preservation of historical tombstones.
• Full-Day Childcare for Primary School Students: Ettenheim will fully implement the right to full-day childcare for first-grade children starting with the school year 2026/2027.
• Social Media in the Town Hall: The local councils of Wallburg and Ettenheimmünster are launching their own Instagram and WhatsApp channels to better reach citizens.
• Blood Donor Honored in Gold: Katja Obergföll received the gold honor pin for ten blood donations – another milestone in social recognition.

Culture and Education: Media Center and VHS in Transition

The Ettenheim City Library will not only be open for longer hours in the future but will also be relocated. Starting in May 2026, it will move to the new Media Center at Friedrichstraße 38, where it will also serve as a central learning and cultural hub for the VHS Ettenheim. The new Media Center will be open for 22 instead of the previous 17 hours per week, promising significantly increased accessibility for citizens.

The VHS branch in Ettenheim, currently using rooms in several districts, will also be integrated into the new Media Center. In 2025, 96 of the 113 planned courses were already conducted – a clear sign of strong demand. The relocation planning is well advanced and includes team meetings, shelf labeling, and a new signage system.

At the same time, Ettenheim will comprehensively implement the right to full-day childcare for first-grade children starting with the school year 2026/2027. The childcare will include 8 hours per day on 5 days per week and 48 weeks per year. This is a milestone in childcare and will be gradually extended to grades 2 through 4.

Infrastructure and Communication: Cemeteries, Construction Projects and Digital Channels

The redesign of the children's cemetery and the gardener-maintained cemetery IV is a central point in the March planning. The city council and the Committee for Construction, Environment and Technology unanimously decided to award the path construction work to the company Lässle GmbH. The total cost for the cemetery redesign amounts to 24,459.18 €. At the same time, a criteria catalog for the classification of historically significant tombstones was approved to ensure their protection. The relocation of tombstones is expected to cost approximately 1,000 € per tombstone.

In addition, several construction applications were acknowledged, including the new construction of a single-family house at Wiesenweg 2 and the conversion of apartments into holiday flats. The external landscaping work at the residential and commercial building in Ettenheim was awarded to the company Zehnle GaLaBau with a contract value of 142,797.94 €.

In the communication sector, Ettenheim is taking modern approaches: The local councils of Wallburg and Ettenheimmünster are launching their own Instagram and WhatsApp channels. Stefan Hunn and Tanja Hog are responsible for these channels, supported by the local mayors. The goal is to provide citizens with faster and more direct access to current information.

Finance and Social Affairs: Donations, Blood Donors and School Transport

Ettenheim is also committed to financial transparency and social responsibility. The city council unanimously approved the acceptance of donation funds totaling 2,841.37 €, including 2,730.26 € for the local administration in Wallburg and 111.11 € for the Wunderfitz kindergarten. These donation funds are an important contribution to the local infrastructure and education.

In addition, Katja Obergföll was awarded the gold honor pin for ten blood donations – another sign of the appreciation for social engagement in Ettenheim.

In the school sector, a decision was made on the cost distribution for the cross-border student transportation for the school years 2026/2027 to 2028/2029. Ettenheim will cover 11.2% of the deficit, amounting to approximately 11,169.51 €. This demonstrates the city's financial responsibility in the field of education.

Outlook: What's Coming Next?

Ettenheim is moving toward a more modern, transparent and digital administration. The implementation of the right to full-day childcare is a milestone for families, and the new Media Center will significantly strengthen the city's cultural and educational profile. At the same time, the city remains committed to social projects such as the recognition of blood donations and donation funds. The cemetery redesign and construction projects show that Ettenheim is also looking ahead in terms of infrastructure.