Eric Noble was chosen for the Ocean Shores City Council on Monday from among six applicants for the open Position 7 seat vacated by Diane Solem, who stepped down to become marketing director of the Convention Center.
Noble described himself as a four-year city resident who came to Ocean Shores for his employment as general manager of the Worldmark Wyndham Mariner Village. Noble also has been the Ocean Shores Chamber of Commerce treasurer (2016 to present) and a Planning Commission member (2016-18).
Noble was the first person to be nominated by Councilman Jon Martin, and seconded by Steve Ensley. He received a third vote from Jeff Daniel, and got a fourth vote from Mayor Crystal Dingler who, under the process, has the ability to break a 3-3 tie if the council is deadlocked on a nominee. It marked the third time this year that the council acted to select someone to fill an open seat. Solem was selected in April to fill the opening caused by the death of Robert Crumpacker, who was serving his second term after being elected in 2017. Daniel was chosen to fill the seat of Holly Plackett, who moved to Hawaii.
The six applicants on Monday made opening statements and answered a set of questions from current Council members. The other applicants were Frank Eluden, David Linn, Ed Schroll, Kathryn Sprigg and Richard Wills.
Noble’s application said he has more than 20 years in the hospitality industry “in complex organizational management and budgeting as well as over 15 years in marketing and promotions.”
“I do understand what it means to live in such a beautiful place, and would like to keep the small-town appeal,” Noble told the council. “I also understand what it means to run a business and why people keep coming back to Ocean Shores.’
Noble’s top concern was the ongoing erosion at the North Jetty.
“I feel like I can be positive influence because I have a vested interest and direct knowledge of the problem,” Noble said. He also listed technology infrastructure improvements and the eventual hiring of a city administrator as other priorities.
In his remarks to the council, Noble said he believed the jetty was a critical issue that affects the whole city. “Half of Ocean Shores is here because of the jetty,” he said.
Corps Jetty relief
Ocean Shores has been informed that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is set to begin long-term maintenance work on the North Jetty, a move city officials believe will help with ongoing coastal erosion along the southern tip of the peninsula.
Mayor Crystal Dingler announced the notice during the Council meeting, and said preliminary Corps work will begin in January.
“That’s wonderful news,” she said. The work will start with an environmental study, which Dingler estimated could take a year as the prelude to a 10-year project done in phases.
“It is based on the navigation needs, and they have determined that our North Jetty is affecting navigation and needs to be taken care of,” Dingler said of the structure that has not been maintained or bolstered as planned.
Dingler credited Public Works Director Nick Bird, state lawmakers, the state Department of Ecology, and a local condominium group with helping getting all parties together through a meeting with the Corps. She also thanked U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer for his support: “He went to bat for us again and again.”
“Everybody helped move it along and it apparently was in their budget for next year,” Dingler said of the Corps’ commitment.
Because it is part of a navigation issue, the Port of Grays Harbor also was informed of the Corps’ decision.
“We can influence the plan, hopefully, about what will be the most benefit” to Ocean Shores, Dingler said. “It’s a huge win for the city.”
