Private sector snaps up manager

By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star - April 02, 2008

A senior administrator at Vernon city hall has been lost to the private sector. Jeremy Kinch, manager of planning, development and engineering, will resign April 17 to join an Edmonton-based construction firm May 1. “It’s a great opportunity for me and my family,” he said. Kinch was with the city for 18 months, and prior to that, was with the North Okanagan Regional District. As part of his duties at city hall, Kinch oversaw the current review of the official community plan. It will be completed this spring. “With the staff they have, things are well in hand,” he said. He has also been involved in the transportation plan. “Jeremy will be missed by all of us and we wish him well on the next phase of his career,” said Leon Gous, the city’s chief administrative officer, in a release.

Kinch’s departure highlights the issue of municipalities retaining employees when there is considerable demand within the private sector and other jurisdictions. “There is a shortage of labour out there and good people like Mr. Kinch will be recruited,” said Mayor Wayne Lippert.
But Lippert believes the city has some strengths when it comes to hiring staff and he points to Jeff Carlisle, the new fire chief moving here from Fort McMurray, Alta. “Our lifestyle is bringing him here,” said Lippert. No quick decisions will be made on hiring a new manager of planning, development and engineering services. “We will look at the division and see if we need to just fill that position or restructure the department,” said Lippert.

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Don Quixote Note: This guy was good. He will be missed. He was able not only to convey the information that was required by council to make decisions in a straight forwarded and concise professional manner but also did it with humour and a thorough explanation of all possible scenarios. He was a square shooter with impeccable logic and could more than hold his own when challenged by Council in debate. His work on the DCC file was very impressive and hopefully this file will see much more progress. (There is $110,000 in the 2008 budget to complete the DCC review.)

GVS Water still claims him as Project Manager on their website in their page on Master Water Plan Projects.