New administrator comes from Town Council
By Pat Jenkins The Dispatch Mayor Mike Schaub has found Eatonville's new town administrator in the ranks of the Town Council. Abby Gribi, a council member since 2011, is Schaub's choice for the duties of managing municipal employees and the day-to-day business of Town Hall. Schaub said she has "the skill sets I feel are necessary" for the $69,000-a-year job. The hiring comes one year after the resignation in November 2015 of former administrator Doug Beagle. His departure left Eatonville without an administrator for the first time in five years. Schaub initially wasn't looking for a new administrator. Starting in May, the town was in the market for a public works director who would oversee all public works functions and employees and supervise the operation and maintenance of electric, water, sewer, streets and storm drainage systems, plus the planning, building and parks departments. But after posting the job, reviewing "numerous" resumes and interviewing applicants, Schaub didn't "find the right experience or fit for the (public works) position," he said. "Over the past year, I did see the need for someone to deal with the overall day-to-day operations. The staff did a great job covering these duties during this time, but we need to have someone responsible for the daily operations." He said the town will use contracted services for oversight of public works planning and projects "when needed." In Eatonville’s strong-mayor form of government, the mayor has hiring and firing authority over employees and is responsible for the town’s budget. The administrator manages the staff and answers to the mayor. Gribi is up to that task, Schaub said. During her five years on the council, "I've observed her knowledge, abilities, and understanding of our" codes and regulations, Schaub said. That and the "added bonus" of her being a longtime resident of Eatonville will serve her well in her new role, he added. "I've always felt she looks out for the best interest of the citizens and the town," he said. "Anyone that has talked or worked with her, or watched her at council or committee meetings would agree she is a very knowledgeable and capable person. She has hit the ground running and will be a real asset." Gribi, who has lived in Eatonville for 13 years, was a member of the town's Planning Commission for three years before being elected to the council. “While it was hard to leave the council, this new role will allow me to continue to make positive changes in the community,” said Gribi. She started her administrator duties Oct. 24, and "getting up to date on everything has been quite a task," she said. During the approximately 12 months that Town Hall was without an administrator, the staff "truly came together and kept the town running, even though their workload increased. It's an honor to work with them," Gribi said. Her goals as administrator include opening lines of communication with citizens and business owners, moving forward with current projects and "finding funds for future projects that will benefit our community but not put us into financial hardship," she said. Gribi, who resigned her council seat to accept her new job, said her combined eight years with the council and the Planning Commission, an advisory panel that makes recommendations to the council, make her familiar with the town's current or recent projects and legislation. "I came into this role with an idea of what is being worked on and what's in the future," she said. "I've also established a good working relationship with the council members and will work to maintain that moving forward." Among others, Councilman James Schrimpsher welcomed Gribi's appointment. He said Schaub made a good choice. Gribi said her community ties help her as administrator. As a councilwoman, she "heard the concerns" of citizens "and will continue to listen and work with them on what they think can make our community even better." Of the last three administrators, Gribi is the first full-time resident of Eatonville. Beagle lived in Olympia, and before him, Gary Armstrong lived in Cle Elum. "I do believe that I bring something a little different to this role than my predecessors, in that this community is my home," Gribi said. "I've lived here for almost 14 years and raised my family here. The issues that some citizens have brought forward include some that I share."
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