According to the Central Public Procurement Information System (CVP IS), a contract between the municipality-owned company UAB “Kauno švara” and the supplier UAB “Autokausta” for the installation of pathway surface structures was signed on July 28. The contract value is 17,370.45 EUR including VAT.
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The contract states that the works will be carried out on K. Mindaugas Avenue, and the works listed in “Autokausta”‘s proposal schedule include road marking, soil leveling, sand and gravel base, dolomite crushed stone, geotextile, lawn sowing, and poured brushed concrete 18 cm thick, with a total purchased area of 134 sq. m.
This 134 sq. m. figure was mentioned earlier as well – on August 11, the administration director Tadas Metelionis signed an order approving a simplified pedestrian path project – the project includes two structures of 60 and 74 sq. m. respectively, so the total area is 134 sq. m. The municipality likely split the project into two structures because the State Territorial Planning and Construction Inspectorate (VTPSI) previously explained that a construction permit is not required for Group I simple structures if the construction area is up to 100 sq. m.
Although photos captured by “Kas vyksta Kaune” show that earlier “Autokausta” workers drilled and concreted piles about 15 meters deep, the contract document signed between “Kauno švara” and “Autokausta” does not mention piles, drilling, grillages, reinforcement, or foundation concrete.
This contract only covers the top surface layer, so it remains unclear under which contract and documents the foundation works, which lasted about three weeks, were carried out.
The information board at the construction site indicates that the pedestrian path construction project of a different purpose (other engineering structures group) is being carried out by “Autokausta” on behalf of the Kaunas city municipality administration, but this contract has not yet been uploaded, and the upper surface structure works were purchased not exactly by the municipality as stated, but by “Kauno švara”.
Analyzing the documents also raises questions about whether this contract was uploaded retroactively. According to CVP IS data, the contract was signed on July 28 – the same day construction began on Nemunas Island, and according to the contract, the contractor committed to start construction works no later than 3 days after signing the contract.
According to CVP IS data, the contract was uploaded on August 10, but the contract was signed with physical signatures, there are no metadata in the contract file, so it is unclear when exactly this contract was signed.
“Kas vyksta Kaune” contacted the Kaunas city municipality and the municipality-owned company UAB “Kauno švara” – inquiring why the works were ordered by “Kauno švara”. Once responses are received, the publication will be updated.
Pedestrian paths built without permits, but a Ferris wheel could also be erected
On July 28, construction works began on Nemunas Island near “Science Island” – the area was fenced off, heavy machinery was operating, piles about 15 meters deep were drilled, and a concrete base was poured. “Kas vyksta Kaune” reported that a structure was being prepared on site, which, according to workers, is intended for a Ferris wheel. The municipality has not officially confirmed that the wheel will be placed there. It explained that a universal platform for various mobile attractions is being prepared, and the Ferris wheel would be just one of the possible structures. Officially, pedestrian paths are being built here – the municipality signed a design contract worth 34.2 thousand EUR with the company UAB “URBAN LINE” on May 13, titled “Pedestrian paths on Nemunas Island,” and the task file in the metadata of the copy is named “TU pedestrian path for Ferris wheel”.
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The biggest question arose because the 45-meter Ferris wheel purchased by Kaunas is a mobile device according to public procurement documents, so it is unclear why it requires deep piles and a massive concrete base.
The Construction Inspectorate informed the portal that no construction permit document has been issued for this object in the “Infostatyba” system. The municipality responded that no permit is needed because the works are classified as a simple structure. Later, the inspectorate conducted an inspection at the construction site and reported that it is recording the actual circumstances and preparing further actions.
Although construction has been ongoing for almost a month, the municipality still does not share the most important documents – the technical project and the construction contract, and has not responded to any questions sent by the portal. The construction contract has also not yet been posted in the public procurement system, although the works are almost completed.
Kaunas architects are also concerned
The situation on Nemunas Island has also caused a reaction in the professional community. On Thursday, the Kaunas branch of the Lithuanian Union of Architects convened a board meeting to discuss the construction – a quorum was not reached because some architects are on vacation, so the board members were decided to be surveyed by email, but the mood of those who participated, according to the branch chairman Nerijus Stanionis, was unanimous. “Those who participated were all unequivocally surprised by the process. Probably the strangest thing is the maintained strange secrecy about what is being done here. Architects would not necessarily say that the construction is bad – the strangest thing is that the process is hidden not only from architects but also from the entire public. This was the mood expressed by everyone,” N. Stanionis told the portal.
According to him, architects cannot provide an expert assessment for the same reason no one else can. “To consider and say whether this is a good location or a good project, architects dare not without seeing the project. Criticism without seeing the project can be very wrong,” explained the architect.
N. Stanionis reminded that for more important city objects, the Regional Architects Council and the Architecture and Urbanism Experts Council operate in Kaunas, to which both the municipality and the chief architect can turn.
“This object legally has a question mark – we have decisions stating that buildings significant to the public need to be considered. If we read the documents literally, we can say that this is a device and additional consideration is not mandatory. Of course – such an object by its size and mass will have an impact and will be clearly visible,” said the branch chairman.
It is noteworthy that the current chief city architect is the deputy director of the administration Gedeminas Barčauskas – the same person whose signature is on the pathway design contract signed on May 13.
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