The city of Ocean Shores welcomed seven volunteers March 14 to shore up the vacancies on its various boards and committees.

City officials also bid fond farewell to longtime city worker Lee Funderberger, most recently of the water treatment facility.

At the same time, Mayor Crystal Dingler announced the city still is seeking five members and two alternatives for the Building Code Board of Appeals, two vacancies on the Parks Board, and one vacancy on the Radio Board.

Appointed with City Council consensus were Library Board members Mary Jo Lohrenz; Fresh Waterways Board members Bob Howe, Bob Pfau, and Phyllis Brown; Planning Commission member Dan Bricker; and Parks Board members Rich Otto and Briant Olsen.

“I can’t tell you how much we appreciate at the city all of the help that we get from our volunteers,” Dingler said in a swearing-in ceremony. “Truly, we couldn’t manage without our volunteers in many cases.”

Funderberger has served the city as a firefighter and public works employee or volunteer himself since 1973.

“In some way, shape or form,” Bird said, Funderberger has worked for the Fire Department, as a tech consultant to the city, and then as water treatment plant chief.

“He has been a fixture for our organization for a good number of years,” Bird said.

His last day was March 17, and Bird presented him with a plaque in honor of his service.

Funderberger thanked the council and city officials for “the opportunities presented to me over the many years.”

As a firefighter, he became a trained paramedic: “It was service to the community, but it was fun.”

Of the water department, Funderberger asked rhetorically: “How many people get to go to work every day and play with $7 million toys?”

“The city has been a real good employer for me,” he added. “I have been well-blessed by the opportunities presented.”