By KEVIN CHIRI

Editor and Publisher

LAPLACE – St. John Parish has a new planning and zoning director, albeit on an interim basis until after the parish elections this fall, and by all accounts, a prospect with strong planning experience that could help guide the potential growth predicted here.

Kim Marousek, formerly the principal planner for the city of Kent, Wash., took over the interim position for St. John just one week ago after originally coming to the area after Hurricane Katrina to work with FEMA in St. Charles Parish.

&#8220I came to St. Charles to help out with FEMA, and really felt like this was an area I would like to return to full time,” she said. &#8220I just feel like I could provide some assistance here for St. John, to help them balance their future plans.”

Marousek has officially been hired as the assistant to Parish President Nickie Monica at a salary of $50,000 since the position is only temporary until after the fall elections. At that time, a new parish president will take office and has the discretion to keep Marousek on or not.

But the new planning and zoning head said the temporary position didn’t bother her, since she also saw it as a chance to be sure this is what she wanted.

&#8220We’re both trying this out, so it was perfect for me,” she said. &#8220I understand the political landscape, and I have a lot of experience with local government. This gave me a chance to be the director of the parish planning department and that was something I’ve wanted an opportunity to do.”

Marousek graduated from Western Washington College with a degree in Environmental Studies, but said she always wanted to work in municipal government.

&#8220I always thought I’d work for local government. I like the fact that my skills and policies can truly be brought forward in this smaller setting,” she said.

After graduating from college she worked as a rural development planner for the Kilsap and King Conservation Districts, helping obtain grants and managing projects every year that included agricultural waste management systems, drainage and wildlife enhancement projects.

She remained there for three y ears before taking the position in 1997 with the city of Kent, being promoted through five positions to eventually serve as principal planner for the 90,000 population city.

She managed complex urban and regional projects, including a comprehensive plan for the city that she now sees on the horizon for St. John Parish.

&#8220I know St. John is working with UNO to get a comprehensive land use plan, and that is something I want to work with to get implemented,” she said. &#8220Too often these plans are made, but then they sit on the shelf. I think St. John has the potential for growth here, but you want to balance the rural setting with that growth. I think I can be of assistance to do that.”

While working in St. Charles after the hurricane from November, 2005 to March, 2006, she helped seek funding for projects there, and identified goals to achieve so the parish could handle the new growth.

From now until the end of the year in St. John, she plans to focus on the land use plan and the new permitting system, trying to bring some organization to both.

Marousek, 37, is single.