Jason Weeks takes helm as city manager Jan. 3
Intends on balancing charm, growth
Courtesy photo: Navasota’s newly hired city manager, Jason Weeks, brings with him 20-plus years of experience in local government ranging from budgeting and auditing to permitting and code enforcement. In addition to his wife Rhonda and three sons Matthew, Connor and Kyle, Weeks loves the outdoors - in particular, his black Jeep Wrangler named “Punisher.”
Examiner photo by Connie Clements: Former City of LaPorte assistant city manager, Jason Weeks, begins the next chapter in Navasota’s history Jan. 3, 2022. Weeks is flanked (L-R) by city council member Bernie Gessner, Mayor Bert Miller, Mayor Pro Tem Grant Holt and council members Pattie Pederson and Josh Fultz.
Not only is Navasota about to start a new year but it’s about to begin a new chapter in the City’s development as Jason Weeks takes the reins as Navasota’s city manager. In a Special Meeting Monday, Dec. 6, the Navasota City Council took action to move forward with the employment of Jason Weeks as Navasota’s new city manager. After meeting in Executive Session held in accordance with Section 551.074 of the Texas Government Code, council approved a motion to amend the employment contract and allow Mayor Bert Miller to execute the final version of the contract. Weeks will begin his duties Jan. 3, 2022.
Amid applause from those in the council chambers, Miller said, “Welcome Mr. Weeks to the City of Navasota.”
Miller praised the “staff deeply involved with this project,” specifically speaking to Human Resources Director Peggy Johnson, as well as Assistant City Manager Shawn Myatt and City Secretary Susie Homeyer.
Jason Weeks
With 20-plus years of experience in local government, Weeks understands balancing urban needs and wants with rural charm.
The former assistant city manager for the City of LaPorte was born in Alabama but came to Texas as an infant when his father accepted employment with a government contractor in Greenville. Weeks was raised in that North Texas town and earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting from Texas A&M University up the road at Commerce and then his master’s in public administration from the University of Texas at Arlington.
Weeks is also a graduate of Texas State University’s William P. Hobby Center for Public Service certified public manager program and is a Certified Public Manager. In addition, he is an International City/County Management Association (ICMA) Credentialed Manager Candidate and has a Certification in Public Budgeting and Financial Management from UT Arlington.
Balancing act When it comes to balancing the demand for urban perks with rural charm, Weeks referred to his own childhood and his experience working for the City of McKinney.
Weeks said, “When I was growing up, McKinney was on Highway 121, the back road to DFW Airport. It was all fields. You had a stop sign at Frisco.”
He continued, “They wanted to keep that downtown historic feel. Everything grew
Balancing act on one side of the highway while the downtown area still functioned as a rural small town. I’m very familiar with that. Keeping that small town charm is great.”
Management style
Will coming from LaPorte with a population of 35,000 to Navasota with under 10,000 residents necessitate a change in Weeks’ management style?
Weeks said, “No, I don’t think it does. It means I’m going to be working more on a personnel level because I won’t have as large a staff. The budget I currently manage is the same size that Navasota’s total budget is. I’m not a micro manager. Basically, I get with my employees, give them the tools they need, provide the resources, be a support to them, and allow them to have the time to do their job.”
The next step
It will come as no surprise that Navasota’s quaint, charming historic downtown captured the Weeks’ family’s attention, and for his wife Rhonda, the proximity to Tex as A&M University where son Matthew attends didn’t hurt.
Weeks continued, “We both love downtown. We love that feel. It’s thriving here. Where I’m coming from, they want that - it’s just that their merchants say they want it but they don’t really want it. We love that the city here wants that downtown feel.”
Weeks praised the renovations and the support they’ve received, describing them “an economic engine for the City.”
He said, “We love that and we want to be a part of that next step.”
Referring to the impending impact of SH 249, Weeks said, “We need to start planning for that growth.”
He is also cognizant of residents’ wish lists which include more retail options, specifically a drugstore and additional dining, and said, “Those are things I see that I will be part of helping to facilitate.”