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September 18, 2012

Wimmenauer death stuns, saddens city workers

By Andrea McCann Washington Times-Herald

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.

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