Martin Köhler is the new boss of the Geretsried building yard

Created: 01/01/2022, 8:00 PM

Is proud of his "great team": Martin Köhler, the new head of the municipal building yard.

© Sabine Hermsdorf-Hiss

"We are the city caretakers," says Martin Köhler.

The new building yard manager, who many Geretsrieder also know as the captain of the ice hockey Bayern league club ESC, is passionate about his job.

Geretsried

- Ironically, on the first real winter day in early December, after it had snowed that night, we met Martin Köhler for an interview.

The new manager of the Geretsried building yard had a lot to organize and coordinate that morning.

His employees had been on the road since four in the morning, salting and spreading all the streets and spaces on the main streets; the secondary streets were cleared by an external company.

Nevertheless, the 33-year-old new boss and successor to Helmut Hodolitsch took time to talk.

You can tell he is enthusiastic about his work.

Mr. Köhler, you are best known in Geretsried as the captain of the first team of the River Rats of the ESC.

What have you done professionally so far and why did you apply for the position as a building yard manager?

I am a state-certified metal construction technician and have been employed by a company in Straßlach for the past eight years.

I'm good friends with Helmut Hodolitsch.

I've always been interested in his work.

That's why I applied as soon as I read in the newspaper that he was leaving.

I am very happy that I was accepted among several applicants - also because I can now work where I live.

This is also nice in that my fiancée and I will have our first child in March.

What do you like about the job?

The work on the building yard is incredibly varied.

We are the caretakers of the city, we keep everything in order.

I am technically skilled, but I am still learning something new, for example in handling vehicles and equipment.

I also enjoy leading a really committed team, even if we are unfortunately a bit poorly staffed at the moment due to illness and - currently - I am missing my deputy.

Are the illnesses caused by the corona?

Indeed.

How else is the pandemic noticeable for the building yard?

The garbage has increased.

Because people go to restaurants less, order more to take away and sometimes eat outside when the weather is nice, there are also more pizza boxes and other things lying around.

Would more litter bins, as suggested recently by some youth councils, be a solution to the problem?

There are some places where you could actually still put rubbish bins.

A general increase in the entire urban area would also mean a lot more work for us.

We empty the containers every day.

It would be nice if people would take their rubbish home with them when there is no public bin nearby or when it is full.

What else would you like from the citizens?

More courtesy and understanding when it comes to winter service.

When heavy snowfall is the order of the day, you should park your car so that the clearance vehicles can get through.

I also ask the Geretsrieder for patience.

Calls and complaints after a surprising onset of winter only hold us up.

The building yard is really doing its best to clear all streets as quickly as possible.

The main roads have top priority.

They are salted first, followed by the dangerous spots.

Only then is it the turn of the side streets, but only if we make it in time.

We try to keep the bike paths passable at all times.

That's correct.

The paths through the city forest and towards Wolfratshausen are very well cleared.

Thank you.

We hear that more often from the citizens.

We are of course happy to receive such praise.

We are also happy to receive advice if paths are blocked by fallen trees after a storm or if something is broken.

I only ask for your understanding if we cannot always do everything immediately.

We spoke of the effects of the pandemic on the range of tasks in the building yard.

What about the working atmosphere?

Indeed, it suffers.

There is no need to sit together with several people during the breaks, as well as a small drink after work when it's someone's birthday.

All of that would be important for the team spirit.

Despite everything, I'm proud of my great team.

Everyone gave me a lot of support at the beginning and made it easy for me to get used to it.

And your hobby ice hockey can be combined with a demanding job?

(laughs) Until now, yes.

And actually I think it's really nice when I'm in town hall or with citizens and am asked about the last game or an upcoming encounter.

valley

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