During the installation meeting of the new municipal council, Pieterjan Keymeulen (alderman 2022 – 2024) took the floor and congratulated the outgoing mayor Johan Van Durme for his wonderful and long political career. He quoted his regular slogan: ‘Mayor of ALL Oosterzelen residents’. He also referred to the many merits and achievements of Christ Meuleman, alderman for 30 years. He was put forward by ZorgSaam as party leader and candidate mayor. ‘He was given the confidence to lead us to victory and he did so successfully. Thanks to his efforts, drive and enthusiasm, we became the largest party on October 13 and he was awarded the most preferential votes (1483!). Being mayor would be the icing on the cake of a successful political career. Pro9860 and VOLUIT decided differently. We believe that Christ would have been a wonderful mayor,” said Pieterjan Keymeulen (33 years old), who achieved a strong result with 920 preferential votes. He provides an overview of Christ Meuleman’s many achievements as alderman.
‘In recent legislative years, there has not been a single major file on the table that Christ Meuleman has not left his mark on. The Youth Council was founded on his initiative. The Roefel Days are legendary. As Alderman for Sport, he lays the foundation for sports policy in Oosterzele. Public Works and Mobility are tailor-made for Christ. Realized: Aquafin – sewerage works, renovation of road infrastructure, safety of road users, bicycle highway. Can be proud of all these achievements. These are all large, complex files that require many collaborations with authorities and agreements to be concluded. He drags the files through the sometimes slow-moving administrative mill. He has worked with almost all institutions: Fluvius, Farys, Aquafin, Province of East Flanders, Solva, Social Housing Companies, Groep Sint – Franciscus, NMBS, Infrabel, De Lijn, Roads and Traffic Agency, Flemish Government, etc. Thanks to his network, he has won many things for our municipality. File-eater par excellence, that is the best way to describe Christ Meuleman. He was also the driving force behind the Groot Bewijk Care Site, the transformation of the cemeteries into cemeteries, the expansion of the native forest, the purchase of plots on the Balegro site for forest expansion, the financial intervention in train and bus subscriptions for students and students, the realization of social housing, the development of climate policy, stimulation of shared mobility, establishment of Hoppin points, realization of charging stations, enforcement of the many compensation measures associated with the file surrounding the N42, the development of the new AC, the reduction of public lighting, the approach to a safer school environment and the agreement with the Flemish Government for the purchase of the VRV site and recently the start of the file to expand the Rommelbeekbos by 1. 3 ha. No one has ever done this to him,” Pieterjan Keymeulen concluded his argument. Christ Meuleman: emphatically in the picture for 30 years, conducted a strong campaign, had the largest vote with 1483 votes, but Pro9860 and VOLUIT formed a board majority at the expense of ZorgSaam.
(Marcel Van De Vijd, photos Danny De Lobelle).
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