The City of Montesano has hired Mike Olden as its new public works/economic development director.

Olden replaces former public works director Rocky Howard who resigned this month. Howard had been placed on administrative leave pending his May resignation.

The new position adds the duties of an economic development director to the public works director position.

Olden has served as a senior engineer for Gibbs and Olson Engineers and Surveyors. Gibbs and Olson has won several contract bids for numerous projects throughout Grays Harbor County including with the City of Montesano.

Because Olden has worked for a company that has been hired often by the city in the past, he comes to the city with a strong base of institutional knowledge.

“Having worked on many projects in the city, he’s incredibly familiar with our infrastructure,” Mayor Vini Samuel said in a telephone interview. “We’re incredibly lucky to have him.”

Additionaly, Olden has worked with staff and comes to the city with developed relationships with public works employees.

“He knows the crew really well,” Samuel said. “It’s as seamless as an entry as you can get.”

But that seamless entry also comes with a price.

Olden is being hired at some $10,000 more than what the city council had agreed to offer a new public works director.

In April, Councilman Dan Wood voted against allowing the mayor to hire a public works director above what was budgeted. The previous public works director had a salary of $85,000. Samuel asked the council for a salary range of $85,000 to $95,000.

The salary range was bumped up to $105,000 during the May 9 city council meeting, and it drew the ire of Wood.

“There was a very good discussion about setting the range at $85,000 to $95,000 a month ago, that’s what was advertised. That is an increase to the salary we had been paying. I understand the arguments that have been made that there may be other work the person can do to achieve cost savings for the city — I’d like to see more data on that before accepting that conclusion, and I’d like to know how much time it would divert from the position,” Wood said.

“I am favorable toward the individual the mayor would like to hire, but I am not favorable on salary,” he added.

Councilman Ian Cope had agreed that the salary increase was difficult to approve but he said he believed the cost savings would come to fruition.

“Having spoken with staff about what the individual will bring to the position I believe there will be savings that will allow for that additional money to be justified and will be of value to the city,” Cope said.

Wood was the lone dissenting vote for a motion that gave the mayor authority to hire Olden for as much as $105,000.

On May 12, Samuel doubled down on her claims that the position would bring cost savings to the city.

“He’s a professional engineer, and we should be able to find the funding between funds,” Samuel said. “We will be able to keep water system issues in house, which will save money, and there are some other $10,000 to $15,000 projects that we can keep in house to make it worthwhile.”

Olden and his wife are both graduates of Montesano High School. Olden graduated in 1982 and his wife graduated in 1984.

He had been with Gibbs and Olson for 19 years.

“It’s been a great place to work,” Olden said in an interview on May 15. “It is hard (to leave). Good people and good projects. Lots of great things over the years.”

During the interview, Olden said service to the community is the most exciting opportunity with his new position in Montesano.

“Serving the people of Montesano and helping the mayor and Council serve the people,” he said.

As for plans, Olden said he first plans to “collect data” to give him additional details about the issues facing the city, but he noted that he already has some institutional knowledge that gives him some perspective.

“I have a good running start,” he said. “I’ve worked with the city over the years. I would like to help the city with planning for different utilities — that’s a big priority. Getting some detailed plans and capital improvement programs set up so we can try to get as many people as we can on the same page and move forward.”

Prior to his time at Gibbs and Olson, Olden worked for the State of Washington for 5 years and the City of Los Angeles for 4 years. In those jobs he had supervisor responsibilities.

“I look forward to working with the crew. I know most of the guys and they know me,” Olden said. “I know they’re exctied about this, and so am I. I look forward to helping them serve the residents as well.”

Olden currently lives in Tumwater.

“We could see ourselves moving back to Montesano in the future,” he said.