WASHINGTON —
City of Washington employees are mourning the loss of Building Commissioner Chris Wimmenauer, whose sudden death Monday stunned them.
Judy Taylor had been Wimmenauer’s secretary since his appointment by Tom Baumert in April of 2003.
“He was wonderful to work with,” she said. “He was a great boss. I’m sure gonna miss him.
“He tried to help everybody. He gave everybody a chance. He was willing to work with anybody within reason. He said ‘I’m just doing my job.”
Wimmenauer had multiple responsibilities, according to Mayor Joe Wellman. Some of those included issuing building permits, doing electrical inspections, handling complaints about blighted properties and structurally questionable buildings, and answering zoning questions.
He advised the city’s Plan Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals, as well.
When Wellman took office in January, he reappointed Wimmenauer to the building commissioner’s position.
“I was happy to have him working with the city,” Wellman said. “He was even-tempered and a hard worker. He certainly had a wealth of information on the job.
“He was very proactive. He was really trying to work to get some properties cleaned up and old houses and buildings torn down. He was really instrumental in helping us get that done.
“He obviously was in a very tough position. He had to address people’s home and property. He had to work with them and still be firm enough to get the job done. In my experience, he seemed to do a good job at that.”
The mayor said Wimmenauer’s death was a shock and he’ll be missed.
“I had just seen him recently and he seemed to be a picture of health,” he continued. “I was shocked when I got the news. Our prayers are with (his wife) Mary and the family. As big a shock as it was for us, it was more of a shock for them.”
In the course of his job, Wimmenauer worked with several city department heads, and they’ll be stepping up to help out if Taylor needs them, she said.
“We’re all going to work together, and we ask people to be patient with us as we work through this,” she said.
Local News
Wimmenauer death stuns, saddens city workers
- Local News
-
-
Police Report
CITY REPORT
10:59 p.m. — A complainant at Westwood Place Apartments reported finding a basket of clothing and other clothing articles scattered in front of some of the buildings. -
Farmers feeling crunch of wet planting season
Area farmers are feeling the crunch to get crops into the ground as soon as possible. Wet conditions have halted many of the planting days in the last week. Just five days were suitable for planting as the soil remains too wet in much of the southern portion of the state.
-
DCH announces safety upgrade
For most students, improving a school grade from an F to a C is quite an improvement.
-
Area Briefs
SAFS activities for next week
Monday — Closed for Memorial Day
Tuesday — Golden Living Center bingo, 10 a.m. -
Loogootee graduation scheduled for Friday
Loogootee Junior/Senior High School will hold its 2013 graduation exercises at 7 p.m. today.
-
Police Report
CITY REPORT
Thursday2:19 p.m. - Debbie Fields, 520 S.E. Second St., reported that her black moped was taken from her residence. The moped had been padlocked.
-
Refugee overcomes barriers to graduate WHS
Seh Reh, like many who has come to Washington as a Burmese refugee, found life in his new home daunting. The language was so intimidating that he dropped out of high school in 2010.
-
Pike Central to hold graduation
Pike Central High School will hold its 38th commencement exercises at 7:30 p.m. Friday in the high school gymnasium.
-
Closings for Memorial Day
The following are area closings for the Memorial Day holiday Monday:
-
North Daviess still facing budget cuts
Members of the state legislature gave schools a two percent increase but North Daviess Community Schools Superintendent Robert Bell said the corporation will still get funding cuts over the next four years.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Police Report
Mayor: Person Killed in San Antonio Flooding
Raw: Apple 1 Computer Sells for More Than $650k
Hagel Urges Cadets to End Scourge of Sex Assault
Raw: Gay Rights Activists March in Ukraine
Bus Fire Kills 16 Children, Teacher in Pakistan
Raw: Pakistan Election Results Protested
Raw: Trucker Bumps I-5 Bridge Before Collapse
Raw: Texas Deputy Shot by Colo. Suspect Honored
Major Detours Following Wash. Bridge Collapse
American Held in Grisly Czech Murders
Raw: Jersey Shore Reopens for Summer
UK-bound Pakistan Plane Diverted, 2 Men Arrested
Officials: Tsarnaev Friend Linked to Slaying
Obama:Sexual Assault Threatens Trust in Military
Bridge Collapse Survivor: 'Rough Day'
Jersey Shore Open for Business
Raw: Memorial Day Flags Placed at Arlington
New Wheelchair Lift Promises More Access
First Person: Mom Discusses Famous Tornado Photo
Raw Video: Washington State Bridge Collapse
