Wimer new Port Neches city manager
By DENNIS KUTAC REPORTER

Port Neches Mayor Glenn Johnson says he believes the candidate selected by the city council for the position of city manager can take their goals of growth and development to the next level.

Council members voted unanimously on Monday to extend an offer to Nederland City Manager Andre Wimer for the position of city manager with an annual salary of $118,000 a year affective June 1.

Johnson later confirmed that Wimer had accepted the offer.

Wimer and Steve Curran, Port Neches fire chief and emergency management coordinator, were named finalists for the position in February.

"We are excited about the opportunity for Andre to come to Port Neches. Both were qualified candidates, but after further discussion, it was decided that Andre would be able to use his city manager experience to take our future plans for the city to the next level," Johnson said.

"We appreciate all Chief Curran has done for Port Neches and we look forward to a continued relationship with him."

Randy Kimler, current city manager, had announced retirement late last year and the city council had been going through the selection process. Last month they announced the finalists for the job.

Johnson said they had advertised throughout the state and received responses from around 10 qualified applicants and narrowed that list to Wimer and Curran.

"We have a splash park that is under construction now and is scheduled to be operational and open to the public by June 1," Johnson said.

"We're also in the process of riverfront development and working on downtown revitalization. There's a lot going on now."

Wimer has served in his current job in Nederland since 1994 and Curran in Port Neches since 2004. Kimler, who has been city manager since 1997, was originally planning to retire April 30, but Johnson said as a convenience, Kimler would stay until May 31. He said he and his family will continue to reside in Port Neches and he plans to do volunteer work in the community.

Kimler began his career in city government in June 1977. He became Groves City Manager in October 1979 and served for 18 years until coming to Port Neches.