New Councilman Allen Kocian Talks About His Hopes for Flatonia

The Record spoke with newly-elected Flatonia Councilman Allen Kocian after the City Council meeting last Tuesday night for an update on his first few weeks on the job.

“I’m looking for a prosperous city,” Kocian said. “We need to keep growing.”

Kocian said he is particularly interested in promoting tourism in Flatonia. He said he hopes the rollout of coronavirus vaccines will boost tourism around the area. Kocian said he recently returned from a trip to New Hampshire and Maine to visit in-laws, where he witnessed firsthand some of the economic devastation caused by the pandemic.

“My sister-in-law runs a bed and breakfast up there and she’s hurting bad, almost couldn’t make mortgage payments,” Kocian said. “We need to make sure the people in our city can prosper, and I think tourism is the biggest thing.”

Kocian is about to step down from the Flatonia Chamber of Commerce board, a position he has held for the past six years. He continues to serve on the Fayette County Tourism Association.

“We’ve been promoting tourism like crazy, and without that, I think a lot of businesses would be in a lot worse shape,” he said.

Kocian said he had the virus and has since recovered. He stressed the importance of keeping everyone safe during the pandemic while also promoting business.

“Let me tell you, it’s not something fun to have,” he said about the virus. “I had it pretty bad. I was in bed for two and a half weeks.”

The Record asked Kocian for his opinion regarding the recent controversy in Flatonia regarding the former City Secretary, Melissa Brunner, who was initially suspended from work over several allegations of misconduct. The City Council later offered her early retirement. That decision took place before Kocian joined the Council following the election last month.

“I’ve read a little bit about that,” Kocian said. “I don’t see where the City did anything wrong. I think they were trying to guard themselves. I’ve seen things like this happen with companies I worked for over the last 30, 40 years. You’ve got to put your shoes back on and walk a little farther down the road. We’re going to get through this.”