THUNDER BAY -- Where most people might look at roadwork as an inconvenience, Tim Commisso sees a city with a good problem to have and a hope that it'll be part of his legacy long after he's gone.
Thunder Bay's longest-serving city manager since amalgamation is stepping down Oct. 30 after seven years on the job and more than 34 years in public service.
Commisso started with the city overseeing work on the Canada Games Complex. He spent time as city manager in Burlington before coming home in 2008. Not one to want credit or kudos, Commisso found internal satisfaction while guiding the city as its top administrator through everything from the then controversial waterfront development to the May 2012 flood.
"In some ways it was the most rewarding thing and it was by far the most challenging thing in one event," he said of the flood.
But he also inherited an infrastructure deficit, now around $17 million every year. Commisso got to work and introduced the enhanced infrastructure renewal program, the reason the city is seeing so much roadwork every year.
While not the most glamorous of legacies, if Commisso could see any of his initiatives still alive in the city in 20 years, it's that one. Modern infrastructure, like the multi-year Golf Links and Junot corridor project, is the right way for any city to go.
"It's what a city should really move towards," he said.
"There's no question I think infrastructure is what I'm most proud of."
Good infrastructure is good for the economy and a good economy means growth. Growth keeps taxes down and the ability for a city to keep its service levels where they are or in some cases add new ones.
Commisso and administration have battled the budget for several years to keep tax increases as low as they can be without cutting service. There are also cost increases beyond the city's control from electricity to insurance to wage increases.
"There is a strong reluctance to reduce services because people value those services so you have to find a balance," he said.
"I don't ever see a fundamental reduction in services as being the answer. I think it's a question of how efficiently you can run an organization."
Even when the city sees growth, a lot of it has been clawed back by industrial and commercial property assessment appeals. Commisso has been one of the most outspoken critics of the Municipal Property Assessment Board and the province's appeals system through the Assessment Review Board.
"I think at the end of the day we can't just be constantly dealing with major losses," he said.
Commisso's Renew Thunder Bay reserve fund kicked off the city's controversial plan to build an event centre. It no doubt divided the community but Commisso said again what he's said for years, it all comes down to whether or not the funding is there. Originally called a mutliplex, the event centre was and still is a way for the city to replace the aging and largely inaccessible Fort William Gardens.
"People kind of look at that project as a make or break project. I take the view it's a project that Thunder Bay needed to deal with," he said.
As for regret, Commisso said its the fact that the city's fight with CN over the James Street Swing Bridge is still ongoing. It heads to court Friday as the city looks for a judge to validate its 1906 agreement with the railway that the company must maintain the bridge forever.
While he may take on a volunteer role somewhere, Commisso's immediate plans are to head off on a trip and spend time with family. He'll also no doubt be keeping an eye on this year's budget process.
"I'm looking forward to being on the other side and kind of worrying about my taxes," Commisso said with a smile.
