Population decline, the centralization of services, digitalization, and the rise of remote work have permanently changed how much space a city needs, and what kind of space. Quite simply, there are too many taxpayer-funded square feet. And the problem isn’t even that simple. As buildings sit underused, the already substantial maintenance backlog continues to grow. … Read more
In local government, there is one word that tends to surface precisely when a decision feels difficult: reputational harm. When the issue on the table is a multimillion-dollar investment or the zoning of a new development area based on investment promises, the discussion usually begins with numbers. Profitability calculations. Employment effects. Risk assessments. Scenarios. And … Read more
In recent months, concerns have surfaced across Finland – concerns many people had never really paid attention to before. In Pieksämäki, too, odd property ownership chains, the town’s strategic location at the crossroads of the national power grid and railway network, and the long distances for police response have all made their way into coffee-table … Read more
Eloisa’s cost-cutting measures targeting Vaalijala don’t affect only South Savo – they threaten to dismantle a national center of expertise built over decades and shift overall costs, many times larger than the individual regional savings, onto the entire social and healthcare system. Eloisa’s adjustment measures now strike at the heart of Vaalijala. Closing four rehabilitation … Read more
In 1976, Toikanniemi in Pieksämäki was changing. From behind the alder trees by the shore rose a concrete, aluminum-clad, glass-surfaced hotel that brought a touch of the big world to a small Finnish town. The newly opened Hotel Savonsolmu felt like a promise of things to come – a landmark of a new era that … Read more
Events are an important part of many municipalities’ identity and sense of community. They bring people together, offer things to do, and make life more enjoyable. Farmers’ markets, summer festivals, and cultural evenings are valuable moments in everyday life — experiences that can’t be measured in money. From an economic perspective, however, their impact is … Read more
The election battle is heating up, and candidates are fighting for every vote — just as they should. Despite it all, the atmosphere between us candidates has remained warm, and we’ve been having real conversations about Pieksämäki’s future. Props to all of us! Still, some campaign promises make you do a double take: a marina, … Read more
Thank you, Riitta Sippo, for your article (March 20, 2025) in the local Newspaper ‘Pieksämäen Lehti‘ discussing the situation and future of Pieksämäki. However, one point you made raised eyebrows among us at Tapahtumaverkko ry association — and rightfully so. You wrote: “Tourism and travel are not Pieksämäki’s thing. Has anyone seen a tourist here? … Read more
Pieksämäki’s Iso-Pappila is undeniably a significant historical site. It is a building that deserves appreciation and care, and it should continue to thrive as a cultural hub and tourist attraction in the future. There seems to be broad consensus on this. However, the discussion has stalled on one single question: Who owns the walls? In … Read more
Pieksämäki is thriving. New projects are emerging, businesses are investing, and the sense of community is strong. There are many positive signs that highlight the town’s appeal and the progress happening on multiple fronts. As the newly elected town council begins shaping a new municipal strategy and vitality program following the April elections, this is … Read more