By Dr. Ferrell Miller
JC Breakfast Optimist Club
Kim Zimmerman, the City Manager for Junction City, was the guest speaker at the JC Breakfast Optimist Club meeting held at the Hampton Inn on March 19. Mr. Zimmerman told members that he was originally from Pennsylvania. After college he joined the US Army and served for 24 years. One of his assignments was for four years at his “favorite post – Fort Riley”. Kim was stationed at Fort Riley from 2004-2008.
While at Fort Riley, he deployed to Iraq with his unit and served as the Mayor of the FOB Falcon (Forward Operating Base), a secured military installation used to support tactical operations. Kim worked with contractors to have a theater built and some fast-food restaurants established after the dining facility had been destroyed by an incoming rocket.
Zimmerman has only been on the job as the Junction City City Manager for a few months. He stated that “honesty, transparency and truth is what you will get from me.” He also believes in quality communication and prefers people who have concerns go directly to him so he can do what he can to solve problems or address issues a citizen may be having. He shared that there are two questions he often asks himself in doing his work. The questions are “What do you know and who else needs to know?” Giving people facts is important to establishing trust.