At the turn of the year, Frank John will have held the office of District Administrator for six months. "A very turbulent time in places, as the arrival of new things was pre-programmed, but I was then overtaken by the programme of tasks - so there is still a lot ahead of me," says District Administrator Frank John, looking back with a wink. "Every day so far has been jam-packed," he emphasised at his first staff meeting last November, which was followed with great interest by numerous employees. "I would describe the past few months as a challenging learning phase, which was also characterised by joy and curiosity. What I didn't realise was the extent of the committee work that comes with my position. There are probably over 30 committees in which my voice is heard. But well, that's also part of it," said the District Administrator. He also took the opportunity to introduce the private Frank John to those present, as this had not yet been possible in all areas. He also made it clear that he sees himself as part of the team that keeps the district administration on course, fulfils the service tasks assigned to it in the best possible way and accepts and masters future challenges. He was happy to repeat his election promise to be a "district administrator you can get to know", even though his presence both within the district administration and externally already attested to his great openness and willingness to engage in dialogue. It is therefore not surprising that after numerous meetings and discussions, there were also valuable impulses that deserve attention.
According to the District Administrator, transparent decisions at management level, fairness, mutual trust and reliable, targeted cooperation across departmental boundaries should form the basis for the complex range of measures that ultimately place the citizens of the Saarpfalz district at the centre.
The district administrator admits that he is currently still missing a little of the contemplation of the Advent season, as is probably the case for other citizens, but he is confident that a little calm will return with the start of the Christmas and New Year holidays. By then, the Christmas tree will be decorated, the parcels of presents will be underneath it and the festive meal will also be planned by then. "In the past, my parents actually used to have wieners with potato salad for Christmas Eve, but as we all know, times change and we haven't yet decided on the culinary side of things," says the district administrator quite unconcernedly, as this is of secondary importance. Time with his family, time to find himself, seeking relaxation by going for walks and hikes in the countryside, perhaps reading a book - that's what Frank John secretly has on his wish list for the last few days of December. The turn of the year is to be celebrated traditionally with friends, so a concrete plan for 1 January has already been made today: resting again and perhaps getting some exercise outside, that would probably be the highest of feelings.
The district administrator leaves no doubt that he intends to hit the ground running afterwards. "We are defined by mandatory tasks in the district. So I don't have to reinvent the wheel and we have our hands full with that. There will certainly be some changes internally, but these will be implemented in harmony with the workforce and are intended to improve processes. In terms of content, I see essential lines of action in the area of civil protection and prevention, such as civil emergency planning, which will present us with major tasks and which will be binding for the administration. This involves systematic preparation in order to be able to respond to major dangers and emergencies in a coordinated and effective manner. Looking at our schools, I naturally see us as having a permanent responsibility to ensure a modern and safe learning environment for our pupils through the construction of new buildings, repairs, energy-efficient refurbishment measures, the promotion of digitalisation and the support provided by our school administration," says Frank John, setting the tone by way of example.
He has another nine and a half years ahead of him in this legislative period to continue the business of the district administration with new ideas but also with reliable consistency. "This is not a long time for me, as I assume that I won't get bored and at the same time I am passionate about this work, which enables me to make a difference for the Saarpfalz district," he assures us. His actions are overseen by the district council, which, as the people's representative body, decides on all matters of self-government for the district. Frank John had words of praise for its members at the last meeting in December: "They have made it easy for me to grow into the office, the cooperation is excellent. I would like to thank you for that."
As the year draws to a close, the District Administrator would also like to extend his best wishes to all citizens for the upcoming festive season: "Enjoy this time, which should bring you peaceful and memorable moments with your loved ones. This may not be easy here and there, for example if your current situation is characterised by illness or the loss of a loved one. I wish you strength and a portion of confidence that comes from new energy and gratitude for the past. With this in mind, I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy start to the New Year."