2020

The entire year was marked by the massive restrictions of the Corona pandemic. Fortunately, the carnival events could still be held. The traditional carnival procession took place on 25 February. For the first time, the «Eichefrässer» was burnt on the festival ground on Zentrumstrasse, because the Maihölzli field was no longer available due to the construction of the new centre development.

The day after the Federal Council declared an «extraordinary situation» on 16 March, the municipal council set up a five-member Corona team on 17 March whose aim was to prevent the infection of municipal employees at the workplace. This goal was achieved by the end of the year.

From 17 March to 11 May, a shutdown was ordered by the Federal Council. Shops, restaurants and even schools had to be closed. Practically all events organised by the municipality and associations had to be cancelled, including the planned Hünenberg trade exhibition HÜNA; the first workshop on the local planning revision and the June municipal assembly. At school, face-to-face teaching gave way to distance learning, which allowed for a welcome surge in innovation in the area of digital learning and teaching. Within days, emergency childcare was also set up for children whose parents had to continue working. Neighbourly help was also encouraged. A second set of restrictive measures was imposed from 22 December (closed restaurants, sports centres, cultural facilities, cinemas, etc.). The municipal administration was not completely closed either in spring or in December, but  customers  could only visit by appointment.

In July, work began on the renovation and extension of the old shooting range clubhouse (Schützenhaus) in the Wart, which dates back to 1686 and had been abandoned for several years, and in future will serve as the Corporation's office building.

The 1 August celebration also fell victim to the Corona pandemic. As a substitute, the municipal council announced a drawing competition on the theme of «National Day in Hünenberg». The most creative drawing was that of Antek Slodowicz from Hünenberg.

On 28 September, Walter Suter, former local councillor and member of the Zug government (1991 – 2006) passed away at the age of 69. He twice served as Landammann (1999/2000, 2003/2004).

As a replacement for the cancelled traditional aperitif on the Advent Light Path, the municipality offered a tasty little surprise on the Hubel every day during Advent. For the first time, KONTAKT Hünenberg organised a Christmas quiz together with the Catholic and Reformed churches.

On 14 December, the community assembly took place in the «Heinrich von Hünenberg» hall under a strict protection concept. In order to comply with the distance regulations, the meeting was also broadcast into the foyer. Despite the obligation to wear masks, 143 voters took the opportunity to discuss and decide on the annual accounts 2019 and the budget 2021 as well as the other agenda items. The aperitif following the meeting was cancelled due to the Corona pandemic.

2021

The year 2021 was also affected by the Corona pandemic. Many events could not be held, for example the Carnival. The schools were particularly challenged by the pandemic and some classes had to switch from face-to-face to distance learning.

The year 2021 was also marked by the local planning revision. Fortunately, all the planned workshops with the population could be held, but mostly digitally. This had not only disadvantages but also the advantage that more people from Hünenberg took part in the video conferences than in a physical event.

In January, the Federal Court dismissed the last appeals against the Cham-Hünenberg Bypass(UCH) project and thus gave the green light for its realisation. The preparatory work will start in 2022 and the opening of the UCH is planned for 2027.

At the community assembly on 21 June, the main topic of discussion was the upgrading of Chamerstrasse in the area of the village centre. The project proposed by the municipal council was accepted by a large majority. Among other things, it provides for a pedestrian-friendly 30 km zone.

At the same meeting, the Municipal Council and representatives of the Post Office provided information on the future of the postal service in Hünenberg: the «post office with partner» model. Migros was found as a partner, so that postal business can be conducted in the new Migros in the centre development when it opens in autumn 2022.

In mid-July, rainy weather combined with heavy thunderstorms prevailed throughout Switzerland. It rained for days and rivers and lakes overflowed their banks. In Hünenberg, the 100-year-old Reuss dam near Rüsshalden was in danger of bursting. It was constantly monitored and partially reinforced. The President of the Swiss Confederation, Guy Parmelin, also visited the endangered site and praised the good work of the Hünenberg municipal staff and the fire brigade.

The listed Schützenhaus near the Wart, which dates back to 1686, was redesigned and expanded by the Hünenberg Corporation, in cooperation with the preservation of historical monuments authority, to become the Corporation's new office. At the end of August, the citizens of the corporation celebrated the renovation and extension with a party at the Lindenplatz.

On 26 August, the new fire engine, which was put into service in December 2019, was ceremonially inaugurated with a celebration at the fire brigade depot. Due to the Corona pandemic, the inauguration had had to be postponed twice. The fire brigade took the opportunity to present their work and also the entire vehicle fleet to the population.

On 11 September, Kontakt Hünenberg celebrated the 50th anniversary of women's suffrage with a women's tour round Hünenberg. Ruth Odermatt, Anna Meyer and Rosemarie Hegglin reported on the early days of the women's movement in Hünenberg.

Hünenberg has had the title ‘Energy town’ since 2004. On 5 November, in Ravensburg (D), it was awarded the «European Energy Gold Award». For the first time, Hünenberg achieved 77.5 points out of a possible 100. At least 75 points are required for the Gold Label, the achievement of which fulfils one of the goals of the Municipal energy guidelines.

The association Zukunft Bösch has developed the «Vision Bösch» with the support of the municipality. At the centre of this innovative plan are ideas such as several clusters, a campus, a boulevard, a ring road, a mobility hub, a circular nature path and solar energy.  The vision gives first priority to the expansion of the infrastructure and the ring road. After a lively discussion, the well-attended  community meeting on 13 December approved the sum of CHF 910,000 proposed by the municipal council for various plans in connection with the upgrading of the Bösch industrial area, such as the planning of the ring road and the creation of temporary replacement parking spaces. 

In the course of the year, the municipal council developed an environmental strategy for the first time and presented it at the municipal assembly on 13 December. The environmental strategy concentrates on three main topics: climate protection, biodiversity and light pollution. The strategy is available on the municipal website.

Markus Ambühl, a long-serving Justice of the Peace, resigned from his office at the end of December. He had served as a justice of the peace for a total of twelve years, initially as a deputy justice of the peace. The previous deputy, Irene Annen, was elected as the new Justice of the Peace and Martin Brun was elected as the new deputy in a silent election.