BY JOHN WALLACE

FELLSMERE – Fellsmere’s  Jason Nunemaker shatters the typical image many people have of a city manager, and he’s just fine with breaking the mold.

You won’t find him in a tie, or using the carefully worded doublespeak lingo favored by many public officials. Instead he’s likely to arrive at work on his motorcycle, sporting a day’s worth of razor stubble and clad in blue jeans and a faded polo shirt. When he’s excited about something in the city he’s likely to use words borrowed from a surfer’s lexicon like neat, psyched, or amped. First impressions are not always accurate, and Nunemaker could serve as the best example of that lesson.

Selected as Fellsmere’s first city manager in 2005 after a shift from a strong mayor form of government, Nunemaker has been surprising people for years as he endeavors to make city council’s sweeping vision for the city into reality. Nunemaker defines Fellsmere for many county residents, but his service almost didn’t happen.

Former mayor and current city councilman Joel Tyson recalls how Nunemaker came to be hired by the city.  Tyson said, “In fact, Jason was not our first choice. He doesn’t like me to say that. He says, ‘I can’t understand that.’” Council’s original choice was an applicant from Havana, Florida, and that applicant withdrew herself from consideration after coming to the conclusion that the city had too many code enforcement issues, and she didn’t want to take on the challenge of resolving them.

Council then offered the position to Nunemaker. Tyson also recalled that in the early years, Nunemaker was far from the laid-back guy who takes everything in stride that he is today. Tyson said that initially Nunemaker had, “a short fuse at that time.”

Tyson said Nunemaker has mellowed during his tenure. “I don’t know if he took an anger management course,” Tyson said with a laugh. Tyson recalled that Jason butted heads with two members of the city council, who both wanted to let him go. “They wanted more oversight (by council) for the city employees, and of course we couldn’t do that. Those council members decided that if they couldn’t have more input on day-to-day operations, they would be best served by removing Nunemaker.

Tyson said the dissenting duo attended a seminar presented by the Florida League of Cities and returned to Fellsmere with a new appreciation both for Nunemaker and the dynamics on city council.

Tyson recalled that they were surprised to find out that many colleagues from other cities detested each other and refused to be in the same room together. In contrast, Fellsmere’s elected officials were always able to work together and find common ground, and Nunemaker was committed to following council’s direction and vision.

According to Tyson the relationship is a good fit both for Fellsmere and  Nunemaker. Now known for being most comfortable in a polo shirt and jeans, Nunemaker was pleasantly surprised when he first interviewed in Fellsmere. According to Tyson, Nunemaker arrived wearing a coat and tie, and was visibly relieved when he was told that no one in Fellsmere wears a tie.

“We don’t allow ties in Fellsmere,” Tyson said.

“He likes his blue jeans, a pickup truck, and all that kind of stuff,” Tyson said. Nunemaker also enjoys outdoor activities, racing, riding his motorcycle, and has broad interests including a passion for politics and economics.

Mayor Susan Adams said Nunemaker’s casual image exemplifies Fellsmere’s spirit. “That’s just how we are out here. We just get down to business without all of the extras and the pomp and circumstance. It’s a working man’s community, and always has been, and I think Jason agrees with that. Plus who wouldn’t want to come to work in jeans.”

But the outside package cloaks a philosopher, an economics expert, and a man who is completing his doctorate in Public Administration at Florida Atlantic University.

During the peak of the charter government movement, the I.R.N.A. cited concerns that explosive growth in Fellsmere would lead to a continuation of the South Florida sprawl and went as far as to label the city as Port  St. Fellsmere. That often contested relationship seems to have thawed recently with a reduction in rhetoric. The I.R.N.A. recently held a meeting at Marsh Landing Restaurant in Fellsmere.

The issues at the time helped Nunemaker also develop a reputation as someone who doesn’t suffer fools, especially those who dismiss him as casual and mistake his comprehension of public policy issues.

During the push by the Indian River Neighborhood Association to adopt charter government, Nunemaker found himself challenged to a debate on the issue by then Commissioner Gary Wheeler. Tyson said Nunemaker blew Wheeler out of the water.  “It was pitiful. Jason just beat Gary Wheeler everywhere he turned. He left him floundering.”

While Nunemaker wouldn’t categorize his performance as a blowout, and says he has great respect for Wheeler, Nunemaker said it was a win-win situation for him because even if he didn’t perform well, he still stood to gain. “That was a lot of fun but I almost would have won either way. By him allowing me that opportunity it elevated me. I was a city manager and he was an elected official. If I came across poorly it really wouldn’t have mattered that much. He had much more to lose than I did,” Nunemaker said.

Nunemaker agreed with Tyson’s perception that he was brash and a little hot-headed when he first came to Fellsmere, but said, “I was mellower then than I was five years before that. I think that’s just an issue with age and experience.”

Nunemaker said he knows he has a reputation for being a laid-back and a casual dresser, and says his appearance stems from the Florida mindset. “What’s the point of living in the tropics if you’re going to be uptight,” Nunemaker said.  “It’s a good place to be. This is paradise.”

The seeds for that outlook were planted decades ago when as a child growing up in Virginia, his family often visited relatives in SouthFlorida. Nunemaker recalled how happy his family was when they were in the Sunshine State, and the disappointment on his parent’s faces when it came time to head north.

“I’d always throw a fit when it came time to leave. I’d ask my parents, “If you go someplace to be happy on vacation, why not just stay and be happy all the time,” Nunemaker said.

After Nunemaker completed his master’s degree in Public Administration at James Madison University in 1996, he made the move to Florida to pursue his doctorate, and started his career, first as an intern with the City of Tamarac, later working his way from an internship to interim city manager in Dania Beach. He then served as town manager in Lake Park, and also worked in the private sector as vice-president for corporate development with the Gehring Group, a consulting firm, before accepting the position in Fellsmere in 2005.

Nunemaker acknowledged his reputation as an intellectual, saying he’s a curious person who loves to read. Nunemaker said that quest for knowledge has become essential in recent years, as cities struggle with declining property values and increasing regulations. “We’re kind of forced to figure things out, and we can’t take things for granted anymore,” Nunemaker said. “When I was coming up as a city manger you could take for granted the increasing tide of property values and construction, and you didn’t have to be as critical.”

“That inspires me to try and understand things a little more,” Nunemaker said.

Nunemaker currently is the second highest paid city manager in Indian River County, at $123,710. Nunemaker recently accepted a small pay increase after rejecting any increase for the past three years. His compensation falls short of Indian River Shore Town Manager Richard Jefferson’s $162,011, but Jefferson, who will be retiring May 15 does double duty as the town’s building official.  Nunemaker’s salary tops both Sebastian City Manager Al Minner’s $117,735, and Vero Beach City Manager Jim O’Connor’s $121,275.

“He’s worth every penny of it,” said Tyson. “I don’t think you would find anybody on the council who disagrees with that. It’s worth whatever we have to pay to keep him here.”

“And he’s being lured away. He gets offers all the time because his reputation has gone far and wide,” Tyson said. “He is well known and well respected.”

Beth Mitchell, president of the Sebastian River Area Chamber of Commerce said that she knew Nunemaker would be an asset to Fellsmere and the North County area for many years. “Everybody is saying wonderful things about Jason these days but some of us knew when he started out in Fellsmere that it was going to be an exceptional fit,” Mitchell said.

“One of the best things about Jason is his no-nonsense, common sense approach,” Mitchell said. “He is one of the most positive public figures that I have seen in a long time. He is an exceptional city manager.”

Mitchell took exception to the perception that Nunemaker is a casual person.  “He’s not really a casual person. He is all business. I think most people find him refreshing because there is never any question about where he stands.”

Nunemaker was recently honored for his economic development efforts by the Indian River County Chamber of Commerce. He was presented with the 2012 Carolyn K. Eggert Economic Development Award.  “That was a total surprise,” Nunemaker said. Mayor Susan Adams asked him to attend, telling him Joel Tyson was being recognized for his long time service.  “It was greatly appreciated and it’s good to be recognized for those efforts” Nunemaker said.

The award was established in 1999 in memory of former county commissioner Carolyn K. Eggert, who was a staunch supporter of economic diversification and job creation. Chamber President Penny Chandler praised Nunemaker for his many efforts to further economic development in the North County area, including attracting the National Elephant Center to Fellsmere, as well as Florida Organic Aquaculture, which recently held a grand opening at their site west of downtown Fellsmere on County Road 512.

Chandler said Nunemaker has helped the city to establish their vision for the future. Chandler said, Jason thinks outside the box and has attracted new ideas and new ventures.”

It took a bit of subterfuge to get Nunemaker to attend the award presentation. Nunemaker said he was surprised at the honor because Adams told him that the chamber planned to honor Tyson for his longtime service in order to get him to attend. Nunemaker said it was good to be recognized for his efforts, but was quick to say the vision for Fellsmere derives from the city’s elected officials.

Tyson also praised Jason’s efforts to attract new businesses to the community, while maintaining Fellsmere’s historic and rural quality. Currently there are YouTube videos circulating in China and Latin America, promoting the city as a community welcome to foreign investment. “Those are the kind of things Jason does behind the scenes that we may not know about until things come to fruition,” Tyson said.

“His vision is our vision,” Tyson said. “We want to preserve the historic nature of the city and capitalize on what we do have. Tyson said Nunemaker has worked hard to pursue council’s vision and encourage eco-tourism and outdoor recreation, both active and passive.

“I worry more about future council members than I do about Jason,” Tyson said, explaining that with the exception of newly-elected Jessica Salgado, the rest of the council members have worked together for a long time, and have also been active in the Fellsmere community. Tyson said one of the reasons he is still on council is he would like to find younger people who would bring new blood to city government while embracing the vision already set by the current council.

“Jason brings a lot of things to the table,” Adams said. “He brings experience, drive, and he has made the effort to get to know the town and represent the city from the perspective of what the city wants, and not just his personal views.”

“I think his vision is council’s vision. His role is to carry out council’s vision and direction, and he does that well,” Adams said.

“He’s doing some really great things and we’re fortunate to have him here,” Tyson said.  While Nunemaker is often courted by other cities, Tyson said he is confident that Nunemaker is here to stay. “He doesn’t want to go anywhere. He loves it here,” Tyson added.

Nunemaker said the long term vision for Fellsmere is a work in progress.  “I think in terms of where we are, we’re probably still at the beginning in term of where we want to be in terms of planting the seeds,” Nunemaker said. “Now we’re starting to see some growth in terms of the vision set by council.”

Nunemaker said a large part of the long term vision for Fellsmere is establishing the city as an eco-tourism destination. Nunemaker said that steps have been taken to help facilitate access to the water bodies to the west, like the Stick Marsh and Blue Cypress Lake, as well as the existing state park system, the buffer preserve, and the new Fellsmere Trailhead Preserve. Plans for a link to trails at North County Park linked to Sebastian by a pedestrian overpass on I-95 are progressing.  The city is also moving forward on the construction of a welcome center, which has been facilitated by a grant from the state’s Scenic Byway program.

“You’ve got all these elements coming together to make Fellsmere a destination, as well as a resource for the local population,” Nunemaker said.

Nunemaker said he hopes those amenities will one day attract a larger population base, because the city’s long term plans include a series of hamlets, with residential and retail development in areas that were annexed into the city. Nunemaker said he doesn’t anticipate a boom in the short term, and admits the prospect of future growth has alarmed some county residents.

It was concerns about growth in Fellsmere that led to the push by the Indian River Neighborhood Association to seek a charter government which would put stronger controls on growth at the county level.

Nunemaker said county residents could see the construction of up to 15,000 new homes in the 22,000-acre annexed area in the next 50 years, but predicted growth would be managed and infrastructure needs would be supported by an increased tax base. “I doubt you’ll see anything of that nature like subdivision construction or new town or villages construction in the next 15 years,” Nunemaker said.

A major factor keeping him in Fellsmere, Nunemaker said, is the political climate in Indian River County, where it’s easy to discuss issues with any member of the county commission or with State Rep. Debbie Mayfield. Nunemaker contrasted that access with cities he had worked in previously where cities had to pay a lobbyist to access elected officials at the county or state level.

“It would bea difficult case to make (here) that your voice isn’t heard,” Nunemaker said.

Nunemaker expressed contempt for lobbyists. “They are slimy creatures,” he said. Nunemaker said there may come a time when he moves on to another opportunity, but he isn’t eager to find himself mired in politics and paying for access to public officials, and he has great disdain for Broward County politics at large.

Nunemaker said one of Fellsmere’s greatest assets is the diverse community. With a population that is about 84% Latino, making the city one of a handful of minority majority cities in Florida, along with a historic traditional African-American enclave in Hall-Carter-James, along with a large native Floridian population of farmers and long-time residents, the city defines diversity.

“For the most part everybody works together,” Nunemaker said. “It’s probably the most united city I’ve ever worked for. If there are divisions they aren’t real deep.”