Milton-Freewater approaches final stages of city manager search

By Dan Thesman on Wednesday, May 13th, 2026 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories

MILTON-FREEWATER – The search for a new Milton-Freewater city manager is entering its final stages, with a field of approximately 13 applicants vying for the position, Mayor Mike Odman announced Tuesday.

The application window is set to close today (Wednesday). Following the deadline, the city council will begin an intensive review process next week to narrow the pool to a shortlist of top contenders.

According to the timeline released by the mayor, formal interviews for those selected candidates are scheduled for the second week of June. The process will culminate in a two-day event mid-month:

June 11: Finalists will tour the community and meet with city staff members.
June 12: The city council will conduct individual interviews with each finalist.

The city is seeking a permanent replacement to oversee daily operations and lead municipal departments. Further details regarding the identities of the applicants have not yet been disclosed.

File photo of Milton-Freewater City Hall