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Moses Lake council continues city manager search

CHERYL SCHWEIZER | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 1 year, 2 months AGO
by CHERYL SCHWEIZER
Senior Reporter Cheryl Schweizer is a journalist with more than 30 years of experience serving small communities in the Pacific Northwest. She began her post-high-school education at Treasure Valley Community College and enerned her journalism degree at Oregon State University. After working for multiple publications, she has settled down at the Columbia Basin Herald and has been a staple of the newsroom for more than a decade. Schweizer’s dedication to her communities and profession has earned her the nickname “The Baroness of Bylines.” She covers a variety of beats including health, business and various municipalities. | January 14, 2025 3:00 AM

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake City Council will meet in executive session Wednesday to discuss the qualifications of a possible candidate for city employment, according to an agenda posted on the city’s website Monday. A vote on a city manager contract is also on the agenda. 

Council members held an executive session Jan. 9 and had possible action scheduled on contract negotiations for a city manager, but did not take a vote.  

If council members vote to offer a contract and the candidate accepts it, the new city manager will replace interim manager Mike Jackson. Jackson replaced former manager Kevin Fuhr, who resigned in June 2024 due to health reasons.  

Mayor Dustin Swartz said he’s optimistic the city can find a candidate that’s a good fit for Moses Lake. 

“We believe there’s interest in Moses Lake,” Swartz said Monday. “We’re considering applicants at this point.” 

Two candidates, Blaine Oborn and Aaron Palmquist, were interviewed in early December, but council members decided against hiring either one. A third candidate withdrew after being named as a finalist but before the interviews. 


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