Syke in Focus – Monthly Review February 2026

Syke in Motion: February 2026 at a Glance

What Was Important This Month

• The Committee for Finance and Economy advocated for a loan to Netzgesellschaft Syke GmbH and approved investments in renewable energy.
• Youth fire brigades celebrated successes in competitions, and honors for long-term service highlighted the city's appreciation.
• The re-election of the Integration Council was decided, and a new council member was appointed to the fire department leadership.
• A defibrillator was donated, and the city's digitalization strategy was presented.
• The 2026 local elections are approaching: Election officials and election committees were confirmed and appointed.

Finance and Investments: Security for the Future

In the Committee for Finance and Economy, several key measures were decided. The city of Syke granted Netzgesellschaft Syke GmbH a liquidity loan of 900,000 euros at an interest rate of 2.75% with a maturity until 2027. This is intended to secure infrastructure and the reliability of municipal services.

In addition, Stadtwerke Syke GmbH received permission to acquire a share in a wind turbine at the Wachendorf Wind Park. This investment is part of the long-term strategy to promote renewable energy and to strengthen municipal independence in the energy sector.

The city's liquidity at the end of 2025 was 19.3 million euros, with investment loans planned from 2028 onwards. The business tax exceeded the target by 3.66 million euros, while the property tax B was slightly below the goal.

Fire Department: Successes, Honors, and Engagement

Syke's youth fire brigades celebrated numerous successes this month. In various competitions, such as the City Youth Fire Department Day and the District Youth Fire Department Day, teams from Heiligenfelde, Wachendorf, and Jardinghausen-Neubruchhausen achieved podium places. Additionally, youth members achieved notable accomplishments in training: 19 earned the Youth Flame 1, 15 the Youth Flame 2, 2 the Youth Flame 3, and 9 the Achievement Badge.

Voluntary contributions were also honored: Herbert Weber received the Bronze Medal of the Lower Saxony Fire Association, and Willi Logemann was honored in Jardinghausen-Neubruchhausen for his long-term work.

In addition, a delegation from the city fire department participated in the 150th anniversary of the Volunteer Fire Department Wabrzezno. This highlights the international partnership and voluntary engagement of the Syke fire department.

Municipal Structure: Reorganization and Preparations

The city council decided on the re-election of the Integration Council for the term 2026–2028. The council will consist of 17 members, including representatives from education, refugee work, and integration initiatives.

There were also changes in fire department leadership: Jannek Steinbüchel was appointed Local Fire Chief and Torben Wienbarg was appointed Deputy Local Fire Chief of the local fire department Gödestorf.

For the 2026 local elections, Thomas Kuchem was confirmed as the municipal election officer and Peter Hübner as the deputy municipal election officer. In addition, the remuneration for election committee members was set at 70 euros to recognize voluntary engagement.

Citizen-Oriented Projects: Health and Digitalization

Another milestone was the donation of a defibrillator worth 5,200 euros to Barrien Primary School. The defibrillator is part of a comprehensive maintenance contract and contributes to improving medical emergency care at the school.

In addition, the digitalization strategy of the city of Syke was presented. The goal is to optimize digital processes, increase transparency, and simplify citizen services. This is a central step toward municipal digitalization and strengthens citizens' trust in the digital future of the city.

Municipal Cooperation and Investments

The council also approved the sale of a commercial plot in the Nordfeld industrial area to the company Wesemann for a total value of 996,645 euros. This promotes economic development and creates new jobs in the region.

Outlook: What's Coming in March?

In March 2026, further committee meetings, preparations for the local elections, and the implementation of the digitalization strategy will be in focus. In addition, the expansion of renewable energy will continue to be advanced.