City architect Kokeš in Lanškroun is leaving, the council has given him notice

Lanškroun - In Lanškroun in the Orlickoústecko region, after 15 years, Přemysl Kokeš is ending his role as the city architect. The council terminated his contract, claiming that he is in a conflict of interest as he receives both city and private contracts. Mayor Radim Vetchý (Lanškrounské fórum) stated this to ČTK today. Kokeš has been working in the city since 2001, and previous city leadership never questioned his role.

"From our perspective, we wanted him to project as little as possible in the area," said Vetchý. According to the mayor, the principles of the Chamber of Architects also speak about conflicts of interest in the same spirit. The city council will announce a new tender.

Kokeš's signature is evident in many places in the city. He designed the transformation of the mayor's office interior with circular lighting above the conference table. He is the author of the new shape of Alois Jirásek Square with a passing fountain, and according to his project, the funeral hall, residential buildings on Sokolská Street, and the white administrative building in the central square were created.

The Soma Technology Center, designed by Kokeš's architectural office, was awarded the Building of the Year in the region last year. "I lived in Lanškroun, I participated in various competitions announced by the city. I succeeded in some, and my role as city architect ran absolutely independently of that," Kokeš said.

According to Deputy Mayor Bohumil Bernášek (ČSSD), the new city leadership did not rush when it took office in 2014 and did not make major personnel changes. They did not discuss the conflict of interest with him. "He should have known his limits," Bernášek added.

Mayor Radim Vetchý also speaks of a loss of trust. Councilor Jaroslav Karlík (Choice for the City) added that the city leadership disagreed with Kokeš on the community center project. "He was more looking for reasons not to proceed rather than how to make it happen," Karlík said. According to Kokeš, the proposal had flaws, such as in its layout and dimension arrangement. He provided his written position, which was not public, to the opposition group that opposed the project.