MAINTENANCE MAN, WILDLIFE TAMER—Rancho Simi Parks and Recreation maintenance worker Raimo Koivu wipes down the inside of a bathroom at the Arroyo Simi Equestrian Center on a recent Tuesday. He has found everything from baby birds on their first test flights to rattlesnakes and swarming ants in bathrooms. Despite the hazards, Koivu enjoys his work. “I started 21 years ago as a two-month temporary worker. After two months, they said, ‘Raimo, you are a good man. Can you stay on the job?’” “It’s a dirty job, but somebody’s got to do it.”

This wellworn phrase perfectly reflects Raimo Koivu’s outlook on his job with the Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District.

As a buildings maintenance worker, Koivu spends his days washing down and tidying up public park restrooms—cleaning the messes that others leave behind and that can aptly be described by one word: gross.

“Sometimes it’s easy, sometimes it’s hard,” Koivu said.

Although it certainly isn’t Koivu’s idea of a dream job, the 56-year-old Simi resident has taken on the responsibility with a positive attitude and even a sense of pride.

“I have a feeling that’s my duty, and I try to do it good,” he said. “When I’m young, I don’t think about becoming a bathroom cleaner, but that’s okay; it’s my job, and I do it good.”

Because of this attitude, Koivu was named the park district’s Employee of the Month for June. The co-worker who nominated Koivu said he deserved the award because of “his cheerful disposition in the face of a difficult job.”

“If anyone wants to feel good, have a conversation with this person and you can’t help but feel better,” wrote the anonymous fellow employee. “He exudes happiness and an appreciation for life.”

A modest Koivu said he was a bit baffled by the honor but is thankful someone recognizes and appreciates his work.

“That was a surprise. I don’t know why. I just do my job, but that feels good, somebody watching me. That’s nice to know,” he said in a thick accent.

Born in Finland, Koivu came to the United States when he was 24 years old. He lived in Redondo Beach and Van Nuys, then settled 27 years ago in Simi, where he lives with his wife, Kathy.

Koivu began working for the park district 20 years ago, and what started as a part-time job became full-time in April 1991.

He first worked in grounds maintenance, caring for the parks’ lawns and landscaping. But he was sidelined for two years after suffering a stroke in 2002 that paralyzed the right side of his body and forced him to relearn how to walk.

When Koivu returned to work in 2004, the park district moved him to buildings maintenance, which he said he likes better because, with less shoveling involved, it’s physically a little easier.

Koivu’s route takes him to eight parks each day, sometimes twice a day. He does whatever is necessary to clean the restrooms, including removing cobwebs and paper wads from ceilings and walls, sanitizing the surfaces and stocking paper goods. Altogether, he cleans 44 toilets.

Koivu said women’s restrooms tend to be messier than men’s—though he did say the boys’ side is more prone to graffiti.

Koivu shares his weekday custodial duties with one other person; each takes half of the city. Koivu covers the east side, which includes Rancho Tapo Community Park (Lemon Park), Rancho Santa Susana Community Park and HoughtonSchreiber Park.

He said the most frustrating part of his job is when, right after cleaning a restroom, he gets a call saying it’s already been trashed. On the other hand, the best part of his day—other than when he finds the restrooms are still spotless from the day before—is when a parkgoer offers a quick thank-you for his work.

Ed Hayduk, assistant general manger for the park district, appreciates Koivu’s dedication.

“We feel it’s really important, and we try to put a lot of emphasis on clean restrooms because you can have the most beautiful park in the world but if you have a messy restroom, it takes a lot of the enjoyment out of the visits,” he said.

Bill Thompson, senior buildings maintenance supervisor and Koivu’s boss, agrees.

“If our general manager is gone for a day, I don’t think people will notice,” Thompson said. “If (Koivu) is gone for a day or two, people are going to see that right away.”