The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
A major change is taking place at Flin Flon City Hall, as Director of Works and Operations Kevin Komarnicki is resigning on Thursday. That same day, Komarnicki will head for his new home of Portland, Oregon, leaving behind a 23-year career with the City of Flin Flon. "There's been ups and downs," he said. "I'm sure there are people here that will be glad to see me go and there are people here who will think differently." Komarnicki, who oversees Flin Flon's sewer and water system, roads, sidewalks and all municipal buildings, admits that job has been stressful at times, part of his reason for leaving. "You deal with the public a lot on everything, from snow removal, water, sewers, streets, you name it," he said. "Your phone at home rings at night on a regular basis. You go to the grocery store and you're always being stopped and asked work-related questions, so it's very difficult to get away from the job. Over time, it starts to wear on you." But the biggest factor in Komarnicki's decision to move on is love, as he will join his fiancee in Portland. What he will do after getting married in December, however, remains up in the air. "I may buy a business, I may change fields altogether," he said. "To be honest, I really haven't given it much thought." As he spends his final hours at his desk at City Hall, Komarnicki has been reflecting on his time at the job and in Flin Flon. The native of Sudbury, Ont., came to town in 1981, fresh from earning his diploma in civil engineering technology, to work as the assistant city engineer. When his boss, John Munson, retired in 1996, he replaced him. Despite some strains, Komarnicki enjoyed his time in both positions. "I have a lot of freedom here," he said. "There's a lot of diversification; you're working on different things all the time and you're given a lot of latitude." Komarnicki did more than help upkeep the City during his tenure. In the annuls of Flin Flon history, he will be remembered for his role in bringing big box stores to the community. Back in 1999, a Winnipeg company called Kraft Construction built Freedman's Bridge stretching over Bellevue Ave. There turned out to be a deficiency in the structure, so Komarnicki informed the owner of Kraft, Henry Rattai. Rattai, who is now deceased, came to Flin Flon to inspect the bridge, and after making arrangements for the necessary repair work, joined Komarnicki for lunch. "We talked a little bit, and he told me about some of the developments he had in Winnipeg, and I said, 'You know what? Let me show you a site,'" recalled Komarnicki. "We went down and I showed him the slag pile that was once on the east side of the Victoria Inn. Six or eight months later, he phoned me back and said, 'We've been mulling some things over. Let's pursue this.' And we went from there to what you see now." Komarnicki helped secure government money to service the so-called mall site, funds that were crucial to the realization of the development. With the federal, provincial and municipal governments chipping in, just over $1 million went toward bringing sewer and water lines to the property. "The City got its money back in taxes in less than one year," noted Komarnicki. "It was a great deal financially for the City. I know it's had some affect on some of the local businesses, some positive, some negative." See 'Have' P.# Con't from P.# "But it's created some employment, and I think the biggest factor of all is that the people of Flin Flon now have a choice," he said. "That just improves the livelihood of the people that live here." Outside of work, Komarnicki and a partner developed Schist Lake, selling 28 lots and keeping one each. "It's been a fun ride," he said. Komarnicki's replacement at City Hall has yet to be named, though his assistant, Rick Bacon, will fill the position in the interim.
