PORT NECHES — The fate of a committee tasked with promoting growth along Port Neches’ riverfront is in the balance.

Ten years ago the Port Neches Riverfront Development Authority was formed to facilitate development of the riverfront.

Since then, the RDA has acted to engage developers, help work through the process to bring the Neches River Wheelhouse to fruition and had a hand in creating a request for proposals for the acreage of land.

Then last year, with legislative blessing, the Port Neches Improvement District was formed to bring infrastructure to develop the riverfront property, including public water, sewer, drainage, roads, bulkheads and other needed infrastructure and secure a funding source.

Council recently discussed these two groups — the Port Neches Riverfront Development Authority and the Port Neches Improvement District, their purpose and whether both are still needed.

“You have these entities and the end game for both is the same, to develop the riverfront,” city manager Andre Wimer said. “The fundamental issue is to bring conversation forward, I don’t want them to conflict between all of the players although city council has the ultimate decision; the city owns the property so there are three groups here. We want to make sure to have the process workable and ultimately want to facilitate development.”

Port Neches mayor Glenn Johnson said he wants to make sure there is no confusion on who is in charge of the development.

“In my mind the riverfront development authority has completed the task it was created for and we need to move forward,” Johnson said.

Dale Lack with the riverfront development authority has been involved with the entity since its inception. He was at the recent meeting where he outlined how the RDA was in place when the call went out for developers, then the economic collapse which led to a drop in interest in the property up through this year.

“I don’t know which entity it (RDA) would fit under,” Lack said. “I admit the riverfront authority is not as active as before.”

But they were an active part of the process that led to the Wheelhouse opening- a business whose success is something others just dream about.

Place 2 councilman Adam Anders and Place 4 councilman Robert Arnold both said they appreciate the work Lack has done with the RDA but are also concerned that there may be confusion with two boards in place with the same goal.

“Whether it’s disbanded (RDA) or falls under the improvement district the public needs to know who the official spokesman is,” Arnold said.

Discussion on the issue is expected to continue.