Port St. Joe city manager receives contract extension

At their regular meeting on Feb. 7, the Port St. Joe city commissioners unanimously voted to renew the city’s contract with City Manager Jim Anderson.

Anderson, who has worked with the city since 2008, has a contract that must be renewed every three years. 

“Well, time flies when you’re having fun. I can’t believe it’s three years since the last one,” said Mayor Rex Buzzett. “You’ve done just a wonderful job. You’ve got some city projects right now that if you go to page 13, 14 (in the agenda) you can see are marked in green, are ones we either have completed or have money for, and there’s just about a whole age of those.”

Anderson’s contract stipulates that he receives $96,000 a year, after the commissioners voted to give him a seven percent raise when his contract was renewed in 2020. At the time, commissioners stated they felt this would help the city remain competitive with the benefits they offered their employees as compared to other nearby municipalities.

No additional raises were added to Anderson’s contract this year.

Members of the public in attendance at the Feb. 7 meeting also voiced their support of reinstating Anderson’s contract.

“Jim, I just wanted you to know, in front of the camera and everyone, how fortunate we are to have you,” said Port St. Joe resident Christy McElroy. As I’ve traveled around seeing how other municipalities and counties run, you’re honest, a straight shooter. I don’t see hidden agendas. And that’s a jewel to the kingdom.”

Anderson’s contract will next be up for renewal in February of 2026.