New ML city manager sworn in
City Clerk Debbie Burke hands a copy of the oath of office to Allison Williams, shortly before she was sworn in as the new city manager.
MOSES LAKE — The first woman to take the top administrative position at the city, Allison Williams took her oath of office Monday as Moses Lake’s new city manager.
Still, outgoing Interim City Manager Kevin Fuhr, who has formally resumed his regular duties as the city’s chief of police, performed the role of city manager for the last time Monday night in order to give Williams more time to adjust, Fuhr said. Williams will fully take over those responsibilities at the next city council meeting mid-February.
After welcoming Williams to the city, Mayor David Curnel broke from the council agenda to surprise Fuhr with a plaque honoring his service to the city. Fuhr took on the interim position in May, shortly after the previous city manager resigned amid scandal, and Curnel thanked Fuhr for leading the city during a tumultuous period.
Along with the plaque, former Mayor Karen Liebrecht, now a city council member, presented Fuhr with a gift certificate to a local restaurant for his family, saying it was a thank-you for “the many dinners you missed with your wife” these last months.
“Thank you for giving what was most needed at the most-needed time,” Liebrecht said before shaking Fuhr’s hand.