Candidates interviewed for Moses Lake city manager

MOSES LAKE — Two candidates for Moses Lake city manager answered questions from city residents and municipal staff in an informal session Wednesday. That was followed by a day of interviews with Moses Lake City Council members and residents Thursday.  

Council members interviewed Aaron Palmquist, city manager of Irrigon, Oregon, and Blaine Oborn, former city manager in Oak Harbor, in closed session late Thursday afternoon. The council agenda included an option to hire a candidate, but final results of the interview process were not available as of press time. A follow-up story will be published once a decision is made.

According to Whidbey News Times reporting, Oborn was terminated from his prior job with Oak Harbor after a vote of no confidence by the city council there, a lawsuit and staff complaints.  

A third candidate, Darren Coldwell, city manager in Paige, Ariz., withdrew after being named as a finalist. 

Both Oborn and Palmquist said they had conducted some research into Moses Lake. Both said they thought ensuring a sustainable municipal water supply was one of the biggest challenges Moses Lake is facing. 

“You need a stable water source, or sources, as Moses Lake continues to grow. What does that look like?” Palmquist said. “You’ve got to analyze that. How do you bring that balance?” 

“In the long term, water is an issue here,” Oborn said. 

Another issue he identified, Oborn said, was sustainable financing.  

“Infrastructure (and) deferred maintenance. Cities don’t ever have enough money, and some of those projects you need and that really need to be done - the infrastructure just gets left behind,” he said.  

Palmquist said he also wanted to address the city’s challenges with homelessness.  

“Between the public, the county, the council and staff, how do we come to a balance so that we can continue to meet the needs of those individuals that have issues?” Palmquist said. 

Improving communication, both within city government and with Moses Lake citizens, also would be a priority, Palmquist said. 

“How to bring consistent, long-term balance and communication between the city staff, the council and the public we’re here to serve. Improved communication, clear and concise. And timely,” Palmquist said. 

Oborn said the city’s financial picture has different components.  

“Looking for long-term stability in the general fund,” he said. 

Palmquist has been city manager in Irrigon for 11 years.  

“I’ve done 25 years in city management,” he said.  

City government must be responsive to city residents, he said. 

“City government – all government – we're here to serve, first and foremost. As a city manager, I work on behalf of my council, but we collectively, together as a leadership team, work to serve who? The members of the community,” he said. “That’s what we all should aspire to.” 

Oborn said he’s had experience in other states.  

“I worked six years in Washington. Before that, I worked nine years in the state of Wisconsin,” he said.  

“I believe in collaboration, and I know that as city manager I’ve got to collaborate with the council and collaborate with the staff and collaborate with the community, and that’s the key,” Oborn said. “I take some credit, but really credit goes to all the other people I work with to get things done.”  

    Moses Lake city manager candidate Aaron Palmquist, left, answers questions from Moses Lake Fire Chief Brett Bastian.