City of Ames Names New Planning and Housing Director

A new planning and housing director has been named for the City of Ames.

Kelly Diekmann, of Sunnyvale, Calif., will begin his duties on June 8. Diekmann replaces former director Steve Osguthorpe, who left in October to become the community development director with the dity of Yakima, Wash. 

“We are excited to welcome Kelly to our organization and believe he brings exceptional planning skills and knowledge to this position,” City Manager Steve Schainker said in a press release issued by the city. “We received more than one hundred applications and completed a rigorous selection process to find a new director. Kelly’s ability to encourage collaboration and build partnerships will help Ames continue to be a progressive, welcoming city in which to live, work, and do business.”

Since 2006, Diekmann has served as principal planner for the city of Fremont, Calif. Prior to that, he served as associate planner for the city of Sunnyvale, Calif. From 1999 to 2002, Diekmann was the Assistant Planner for the City of Medford, Ore.

Diekmann attended Iowa State University for one year and later earned his bachelor’s degree in geography from South Dakota State University in Brookings, S.D.