diff --git a/core/import_step.py b/core/import_step.py
index 7acdcd6..96ef6d8 100644
--- a/core/import_step.py
+++ b/core/import_step.py
@@ -236,6 +236,7 @@ def _load_osm_from_placename(self, db: PostgresConnection, data_schema: str, dat
         
         # download AOI
         # first: create AOI query string
+        h.debugLog(f"preparing AOI query for {settings['place_name']}")
         o_add_filter = ""
         if h.has_keys(settings, ['admin_level']):
             o_add_filter += "[admin_level='" + str(settings['admin_level']) + "']" 
diff --git a/generate_index.py b/generate_index.py
index 2a9ac35..8d10371 100644
--- a/generate_index.py
+++ b/generate_index.py
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
 from settings import DbSettings, GlobalSettings
 
 parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(description='TODO: add description')
-parser.add_argument('settings_file', type=argparse.FileType('r'),
+parser.add_argument('settings_file', type=argparse.FileType('r', encoding='utf-8'),
                     help='TODO: write detailed description here')
 parser.add_argument('--skip', nargs='+', choices=['import', 'optional', 'network', 'attributes', 'index', 'export'],
                     help='skip one or more of these steps - e.g. "--skip import optional"')