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2 - 8, 2023
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Harmon finishes first month as city manager
B y G race M c c arthy
Michael Harmon is finishing his first full month as Blaine city manager after starting the job on January 16.
Harmon, with six years of experience under his belt in city management, has taken the position during a time when Blaine is facing major challenges and changes. These include a $7 million sewer project to replace dilapidated pipes, extensive housing projects in Semiahmoo and east Blaine, a long-anticipated overpass project at Bell Road and Peace Portal Drive that is on tap for a go for federal funding. The city is also anticipated to dip $1 million into its reserves this year.
A Fairfield, Iowa native, Harmon earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Northern Iowa and a master’s degree in public administration from the University of South Dakota. Harmon worked as a police officer in Pierre, South Dakota and for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security before becoming the city administrator of Fairfield, a city of 9,600 people.
Harmon then went on to become the city administrator of Spearfish, South Dakota from 2017 to 2021. In the city of 12,300 people, he oversaw 125 full-time staff members and a $42 million operational budget. He did a brief stint as the chief operating officer of electric utility provider High Plains Power in Riverton, Wyoming, before taking the job as Blaine city manager.
Harmon moved to Blaine with his wife, 10-year-old son and two-year-old daughter.
The Northern Light interviewed Harmon and asked about his plans and hopes as he embarks on a new challenge.
Responses were edited for length and clarity.
Q: How has your first month gone as Blaine city manager?
The first month has been a whirlwind of information about Blaine and certain Washington laws, coupled with some projects that have some tight deadlines such as the Bell Road grade separation application for federal grant funds and the east Blaine tax-increment financing district (TIF) project.
It’s been very busy but the transition
