Joe van Koeverden isn’t wasting any time transitioning into his new role of City Manager and jumping in with both feet.

Taking on the task of building a new strategic plan for the city, van Koeverden approached mayor and council with a report and suggesting an extension on the timeline for completion.

The recommendation was to revise the timetable for the development of a new strategic plan and to broaden the plans working group to consist of additional members.

These members are to include Mayor Craig Nuttall; councillors Martin MacKinnon and Mary Trist; City Manager Joe van Koeverden; Director of Engineering and Public Works, Mike Louttit; Director of Corporate Services, Linda McNaughton; City Clerk, Colleen Brosseau; Economic Development Manager, Vicki Kurz; and Human Resources Advisor, Kathy McMonagle.

In March 2011, a resolution was passed by council to form a strategic planning working group, mandating the following tasks: to carry out broad community consultations; to draft a strategic plan for this term of council; and to present the draft strategic plan no later than the end of September 2011.

The proposed revised schedule is for the realignment and rebuilding of the Senior Management Team (SMT) structure and relationships in September. In October, each division is to complete a third quarter year-end forecast for both operational and financial reviews.

November should see the divisions to complete a review of their mandate, workplan and budget requests for 2012 with December seeing a roll up of all the plans into a central workplan and budget.

Early 2012 should be the start of a comprehensive strategic planning process with community input.

Van Koeverden coined the phrase, “Little city, big ideas” for the city of Dryden. He outlines the theme of the new strategic plan as building on the loyalty of the staff, residents and visitors to the city of Dryden to ensure a vibrant, sustainable community with a balanced approach to economic development and retaining a quality of life unique to our northern locations as a wilderness city. “We are good, but we want to be great.”

Van Koeverden lists some of the objectives to be further defined as the quality of life for the residents of and visitors to the city and region of Dryden. He also says diversified economic development to include services to the region and travelling public, as well as services to be offered directly by the city of Dryden in a cost effective manner.

The city manager lists a few of the reasons for revision as current work pressures of major projects including the WSIB Workwell audit, the construction of the new sewage plant and auditing and financial reporting deadlines.

By Ally Dunham