Could the mill’s old doors be open once again any time soon?
Citizens have asked Slobodna Dalmacija why Gašpina Mill’s gates were closed recently.
As Slobodna Dalmacija writes on the 10th of February, 2018, Gašpina Mill, a piece of protected cultural heritage, has been under a concession from the Poljak family in Solin for the past four years, which has now expired. Therefore, the doors of the mill, at least as far as the concessionaire is concerned, are now closed.
Despite the closing of the doors, it doesn’t mean that the mill can’t be visited if needed, but any visitations must be reported to the city and can ”easily be arranged”, according to Ante Ljubičić, Head of the Department of Legal Affairs and General Affairs of Solin.
As was learned, the concession has been expired for three months now, expiring literally on the 9th of November, 2017. Slobodna Dalmacija also asked why a tender for a new concession wasn’t published or announced after the expiration of the old one.
As was explained and as is known, at the end of last year, a new law on concessions was passed. Otherwise, the law has changed three times throughout the duration of the previous concession, and the law on the protection of cultural heritage is to be respected, meaning that public documents are currently being prepared for a public tender, which should be in accordance with the current law, as Ante Ljubičić stated.
In Solin’s old mill, objects from the area’s hard working past can be found, making the mill a prime attraction for school kids, visitations and various other educational and historical purposes.
Slobodna Dalmacija also asked the existing concessionaire whether or not there are any new plans, and whether or not they’ll apply for the tender once again.
”We’re waiting for a new tender and we’ll definitely sign up and bid,” responded Tomislav Poljak.
Gašpina mlinica (mill) was rebuilt in 2008 and is under the ownership of the City of Solin, and at the end of 2013, it was awarded its first concessionaire. The company “Septima” of the Poljak family was the only one registered at the time of the competition which fulfilled all of the necessary conditions expected.
