By paNOW Staff

Director of Planning moves on to provincial job

May 26, 2017 | 5:50 PM

The city’s Director of Planning and Development Services is moving on to a new job with the province, but says he’s leaving Prince Albert in good shape.

John Guenther handled land and economic development, building permits, inspections and general planning in P.A. for more than two years. Guenther, whose career has taken him everywhere from Vancouver to Arizona to California, will soon be moving on to his new position as director of northern community planning for the Government of Saskatchewan. His last day with the city is June 16, then he’s off to Saskatoon.

Guenther said Craig Guidinger, who works in the same department, will likely be called up to fill his shoes in the interim, but expects the department to do some restructuring before a permanent replacement is appointed.

Luckily Guenther likes to plan ahead, and said many development plans have already been completed while other exciting projects are currently in the works.

“There’s a lot of long-range planning going on, which I think is pretty good,” he said. “We’ve got a new regional economic development model coming which will be coming to council this month.”

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The city’s transportation and cultural plans have been completed, Guenther said, and work is well underway on the plans for community services and parks and recreation. The department is also working on a social master plan which Guenther said will incorporate food security, youth planning, age-friendly activities and the community alcohol strategy.

Guenther said there will be challenges for the department in the future as well, largely around the issue of economic development.

“I wish there was more construction going on,” he said. “Our land development portfolio probably needs some attention but I think it’s in better shape.”

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