The PKS Bolesławiec staff and local-government officials held a brief summary of their activities since the change in leadership. This period also included the COVID-19 pandemic, which had a significant impact on the company.
“The years 2019 and 2020 were shaped by two challenges: the first was the bus fund, and the second was the pandemic,” PKS Bolesławiec president Łukasz Jaźwiec summed up. “In reality, all our efforts focused on, firstly, fulfilling the obligations arising from agreements signed with the municipalities and, secondly, transporting passengers safely, with great concern for the lives and health of the company’s employees. In May 2019, a breakthrough occurred: new opportunities opened up for PKS, and an act and a fund allowing new connections to be launched were adopted. This gave us enormous hope, but the act could not have been implemented without local governments. Many thanks to the heads of the Lwówek and Bolesławiec counties. Today we have 26 routes in Bolesławiec County and one in Lwówek County. This was a formal, legal and logistical challenge, because in 2019 PKS Bolesławiec was at a critical point. Nobody knew what would happen in a month, two months or three… There were countless problems that had to be solved quickly, and without the county head and the mayors, it would not have succeeded. After several months of operation, we were stopped by the pandemic; it was a very difficult time for us. I remember meeting with employees in April 2020 and telling them that two things were crucial to me and that I would do everything possible to achieve them: ensuring transport for county residents and making sure employees did not suffer. I managed to ensure that the pandemic did not lead to layoffs, lower wages or a slowdown in work, and I achieved that one hundred percent,” the president added.
The head of Bolesławiec County confirmed that the pandemic years had been difficult.
“There were moments when the president needed encouragement, but I hope that period is behind us. I thank everyone who wishes our county-owned company well,” said Tomasz Gabrysiak.
The city president discussed the company’s development in the context of Bolesławiec’s paid parking zone.
“Our measures concerning the paid parking zone in the city centre may bring PKS customers, and customers will buy tickets, while ticket sales will contribute to the company’s development,” said Piotr Roman. “We did not do this only for PKS; I hope that all public-transport companies will benefit, and additionally it will contribute to cleaner air in the city centre,” the president added.
Let us recall that in 2019, following a recruitment competition, Łukasz Jaźwiec, a Bolesławiec City Council member, became the new president of PKS Bolesławiec. He replaced Jacek Subik, who was associated with former Bolesławiec County head Karol Stasik. Subik and Stasik had previously worked together at Zakłady Ceramiczne Bolesławiec. After PiS won the elections, Stasik ceased to head the company but became head of Bolesławiec County. Subik, in turn, became head of PKS, in which the county holds shares.
After the most recent local elections, Karol Stasik was unable to retain his position and form a coalition, and he ceased to be county head. A coalition was formed by people associated with president Roman, PiS, SLD and Ziemia Bolesławiecka.
Andrzej Dutkowski, mayor of Bolesławiec Municipality, referred to the changes from a historical perspective.
“This will be the voice of someone representing the municipality that has benefited most from the changes that took place at PKS Bolesławiec,” said the mayor. “We remember the fleet PKS used to operate and the people who managed the company [przed 2019 rokiem przyp. red.]. It was not good management, because it stirred emotions among customers and staff. Today I see the point of the county government taking over the company. I am glad that we managed to create such a political arrangement in the county—an arrangement in which I am also a participant, and which understands that the most urgent problem in the municipality is transport. The fleet has been modernised. And I think the president has reached an understanding with the employees. That is a success. I do not regret a single złoty spent on PKS Bolesławiec; this is money well spent,” concluded Andrzej Dutkowski.
Guests invited to the ceremony summarising two years of PKS Bolesławiec’s operations:
- Tomasz Gabrysiak Head of Bolesławiec County
- Mirosława Horzempa Deputy Head of Bolesławiec County
- Stanisław Chwojnicki Member of the Bolesławiec County Board
- Ryszad Kalus Member of the Bolesławiec County Board
- Piotr Roman President of Bolesławiec
- Daniel Koko Head of Lwówek County
- Mariola Szczęsna Mayor of the Municipality and City of Lwówek Śląski
- Andrzej Dutkowski Mayor of Bolesławiec Municipality
- Roman Jaworski Deputy Mayor of Bolesławiec Municipality
- Waldemar Nalazek Mayor of Osiecznica Municipality
- Dariusz Pawliszczy Mayor of Gromadka Municipality
- Mirosław Haniszewski Mayor of Warta Bolesławiecka Municipality