BY ROGER SMITH
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
KERMIT — The Kermit Town Council has appointed Steven Kominar to fill the seat left vacant by the passing of longtime councilman and fire chief Wilburn “Hawkey” Preece, whose decades of public service shaped the small town’s civic life. Preece, a 20-year council member reelected in June 2024 to another four-year term, died Aug. 25. Acting on the recommendation of Mayor Charles Sparks, the council voted unanimously Oct. 13 to have Kominar serve out the remainder of his term.
“He’s definitely knowledgeable,” Councilwoman Tammy Preece Hodge said.
Kominar is a Vietnam-era U.S. Air Force veteran and longtime Mingo County resident whose career spans business, government and education. He served nine terms in the West Virginia House of Delegates, spent more than 30 years as business manager for Lee Sartin Trucking Company in Kermit, and previously held seats on the Mingo County Board of Education and several regional education and community boards. He also served three years as executive director of the Mingo County Redevelopment Authority. Kominar holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business administration from The Ohio State University.
The council also unanimously approved to purchase a 2017 GMC Canyon 4-wheel-drive pickup truck with a towing package to serve as the town’s new police vehicle, replacing the old “worn-out” cruiser.
Sparks said the town will use opioid settlement funds to purchase the truck for $23,600 from Walters Chevrolet GMS in Pikeville.
The town will use the radio and lights from the current cruiser on the new truck and add Kermit Police decals.
Money from the sale of the old cruiser will go toward the price of the new truck.
Kermit is looking to hire a new employee for the water plant. The council agreed to repost the position with the stipulation that any new hire must test for a Class 1 operator’s certification after the first year of employment and pass random mandatory drug testing.
Those interested in the position can pick up an employment application at Kermit Town Hall, Monday through Friday between the hours of 9:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
Sparks provided an update on the ongoing water improvement project, noting the installation of various new valves within the distribution system.
Trick-or-treat will take place Oct. 30 from 6 to 8 p.m. in Kermit.
Councilwoman Preece announced that Christmas in the Park is on tap for Friday, Dec. 5.
“The students from the schools in Louisville will be here and they always like to help,” Preece said.
The event will start at 5:30 p.m.
The council set the first Saturday in October as the date for the Kermit Fall Festival.