Chairman of the Vitebsk District Executive Committee Gennady Sabinich: "Our territory is a kind of gateway to Vitebsk"
Gennady Gennadievich spoke about the advantages and disadvantages of being in close proximity to the regional center, the problems that had to be solved in the first days in his new position, as well as the development prospects and unrealized potential of the region in an interview with "Vitebskiye Vesti".
– Gennady Gennadievich, it will soon be a year since you have been heading the Vitebsk district. Recall your first working day as the chairman of the district executive committee. Where did you start?
– With housing and communal services issues. I started working on December 29th; as you understand, it's the end of the year, a time for summing up results, but it was practically impossible to significantly influence the indicators. However, there were some issues in housing and communal services that required prompt resolution within one or two days, so I immediately got involved in the most relevant and pressing sphere for the population. It is worth noting that the housing and communal services sector has not disappeared from view throughout my entire period of leadership in the district. This topic traditionally prevails during "direct lines," and citizens regularly come to reception with complaints and grievances about the work of utility workers. This sphere has its own specifics, especially considering that we are a suburban district – there is no district center, all problem points are located around the perimeter.
It should also be taken into account that a significant part of the housing stock, the communication network, boiler houses, and water supply, which were once transferred to the balance of agricultural enterprises, are not in very good condition. Utility workers are working hard, and many facilities require major repairs or replacement. But we are addressing these issues, and there are reserves in housing and communal services.
From the new year, I began to work fully on all
directions. In agriculture, the problems of winter stall housing for livestock were relevant: in some farms, there were practically no feeds left, it was necessary to organize their transfer, and preparations for the sowing campaign were also actively underway. Industrial enterprises of the district also required attention – the broiler poultry farm, the fruit and vegetable processing plant, which were going through difficult times at the beginning of the year.Now, ways out of their difficult situation have emerged, and prospects are visible. Although not as obvious as they say, not on the surface, there are also issues in the social sphere, although it should be noted that many problems are being solved by the relevant services and structures independently, without attracting additional resources.
– You have solid leadership experience. You were the director of an agricultural enterprise, worked in the district vertical of power, and also succeeded as the deputy chairman of the regional agricultural committee. You surely were well aware that being the chairman of the district executive committee means being at the forefront of solving the life support issues of the population of an entire region. How did you receive the offer to take this position?
– When the chairman of the regional executive committee, Nikolai Nikolaevich Sherstnev, offered me to head the Vitebsk district, I asked for time to think: first of all, I was afraid of not justifying the huge credit of trust, I didn't want to let people down. I analyzed everything, consulted with my family, and came to the conclusion that I have certain experience, and thanks to my work in the committee for agriculture and food of the regional executive committee, I am largely familiar with the situation in the region: I visited agricultural enterprises and organizations in the Vitebsk district, I know the management and staff. Therefore, I realistically assessed the situation, knew where I was going and how much work had to be done. I decided that I could cope and agreed.
But it is not for nothing that it is said that one man cannot win a battle, so upon appointment, I focused the district asset on effective and fruitful work. Everyone needs to understand the level of responsibility for their assigned area. I have sufficient leadership experience, so I understand that you cannot rush into things without thinking.
стоит, нужно дать человеку шанс, присмотреться и оценить его потенциал. Бывает, что кто-то устает, не справляется со своими обязанностями на все сто процентов, тогда нужно искать вариант с меньшей нагрузкой. Об этом я и предупредил свою команду, но каких-то серьезных кадровых решений принимать не пришлось. Уважительно отношусь к своим специалистам, заместителям, всегда беру во внимание их мнение. С уверенностью могу сказать, что со мной работают профессионалы.– Какие преимущества дает и какие проблемы приносит непосредственная близость к северной столице?
– Наша территория – своеобразные въездные ворота в Витебск, и, естественно, это подразумевает более высокие требования по многим направлениям. К примеру, касается культуры земледелия: поля обязательно должны быть технологично обработаны и засеяны. Особые подходы и к благоустройству. На прилегающей к областному центру территории всегда обязан быть образцовый порядок. Ведь от того, в каком состоянии находятся населенные пункты, придорожные полосы, лесные массивы, во многом зависит имидж не только нашего региона, но и северной столицы, а значит, Придвинья в целом.
Отдельная тема для разговора – садоводческие товарищества. Их на территории района 162. Это огромный объем работы, приходится решать многочисленные земельные споры, порой нужно вникнуть в тонкости соседских взаимоотношений, чтобы разобраться с очередной жалобой. Часто поступают просьбы оборудовать дополнительные остановки общественного транспорта, иногда люди не хотят понимать, какая нагрузка при этом ложится на районный бюджет и что просто невозможно сделать их через каждые 100 – 150 метров.
Также среди главных проблем, которые вытекают из соседства с Витебском, – отток кадров. Не секрет, что в крупных населенных пунктах зарплата на порядок выше, чем на селе. По оплате труда сельхозпредприятия в силу многих обстоятельств не могут конкурировать с производствами и организациями индустриального центра. Однако оптимальный для значительной части населения района вариант – жить за городом на свежем воздухе в красивом месте, а трудиться в городе – для местной власти создает
certain difficulties. After all, taxes from their earnings are not paid into the district budget, but people use social benefits in our area, we must ensure the proper condition of roads, solve housing and communal services issues, and create comfortable living conditions.For example, plots for the construction of private houses in the agro-town of Vorony, located in the Liozno direction from Vitebsk, turned out to be in demand at one time. There are no free ones now, all are occupied: sold or provided to citizens in need of improved housing conditions. But, unfortunately, the infrastructure of the settlement is practically not developing, engineering networks, electricity, sewerage, and gas need to be laid, but there are not enough funds in the district budget for this, so we hope for support from the region.
However, we are not going to sit idly by and just wait for help. Especially since the potential in the region is not exhausted, especially in agriculture. We have a number of strong agricultural producers, and we are orienting others towards this level. A reorganization process is underway in the industry, and we believe it will bear fruit. After all, strong farms in rural areas play a city-forming role: if a collective farm works stably, then the village will exist, roads will be repaired, and working and living conditions for people will become decent. We do not lose sight of the situation at the industrial enterprises of the region; if necessary, we look for investors capable of giving a second life to production. We are trying to create favorable conditions for the development of small and medium-sized businesses. In this regard, proximity to the regional center is in our favor: transportation costs are minimal, premises can be purchased or leased at an affordable price, and, unlike the city, for rural areas, legislative preferences and tax benefits are established.
Thus, enterprises engaged in freight transportation, furniture production, windows, granite monuments, and many others successfully operate in the Vitebsk region, there are strong peasant farms, profitable agro-tourism estates, and recreation centers. Of course, there are also those who do not
were able to adapt to modern economic realities, they are being replaced by more proactive and mobile individuals who see development opportunities in the current situation, promote in-demand projects, and thus, new jobs will also appear. To date, about 80 have been created in the district against the set target of 120. We are now working to fulfill the instructions of the head of state and the governor.– To work effectively and accomplish the set tasks, a leader, like any person for that matter, must have a reliable rear.
– I was lucky, I have a wonderful family. My wife and two daughters always understand and support me. During my work, we had to move several times, and these troubles largely fell on my wife's shoulders. I know how difficult it is to set up a home each time and solve other household issues. I thank my parents: with their example, they instilled in me a proper understanding of life and a respectful attitude towards people.
– Do you have any hobbies or pursuits for the soul?
– In my youth, I was interested in technology: cars, motorcycles. With age, I began to look at many things differently, so my range of interests has changed. Recently, I planted a small garden: I planted about a dozen apple trees, a pear tree, a cherry tree, and bushes – gooseberries and currants. Now I am studying literature on caring for seedlings, communicating and consulting with knowledgeable people so that the garden will bear fruit in the future.
“VV” Information
Gennady Sabinich was born in 1973 in the village of Shunevtsy, Gluboksky district. He graduated from the Belarusian Agricultural Academy and the Academy of Management under the President of the Republic of Belarus. He began his career as an engineer for equipping the "Paris Commune" collective farm with machinery, was the director of KUSKhP "Lukoml" in Chashnikshchina, and the first deputy chairman of the Sennensky District Executive Committee. Since 2012, he served as deputy chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee's Committee for Agriculture and Food, overseeing mechanization and agricultural processing issues. In December last year, he headed the Vitebsk district.
Natalia Kamleva. Photo by Anton Stepanishchev. "Vitebskiye vesti".