Mila Cosgrove, right, who retired from her position as Deputy City Manager of the City and Borough of Juneau, received a commendation from the CBJ Assembly Monday night for her years of service to the city. This August 2011 file photo shows Cosgrove in her former position as CBJ Human Resources and Risk Management Director alongside former City Attorney Jane Sebens. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

Mila Cosgrove, right, who retired from her position as Deputy City Manager of the City and Borough of Juneau, received a commendation from the CBJ Assembly Monday night for her years of service to the city. This August 2011 file photo shows Cosgrove in her former position as CBJ Human Resources and Risk Management Director alongside former City Attorney Jane Sebens. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

City commends retired deputy city manager

Assembly thanks Mila Cosgrove for years of public service

Longtime public servant and outgoing Deputy City Manager Mila Cosgrove received a commendation from the city Monday, thanking her for her service before her retirement at the end of the month.

Holding back tears speaking to the City and Borough of Juneau Assembly meeting Monday night, City Manager Rorie Watt called Cosgrove’s work ‘superlative’ and said her work had made a profound impact on the city’s governance.

“It’s not easy running a city, when you have a Mila Cosgrove you can do so much more,” Watt said. “We’re a much better organization and we’re going to dearly miss you.”

Eviction moratorium ends, state and local leaders wait and see

Cosgrove became deputy city manager in 2016 after spending nine years as the city’s human resources and risk management director, according to her CBJ biography. Robert Barr has fully taken over the position of deputy city manager, but Cosgrove will continue working until the end of August in her capacity as incident commander of the city’s Emergency Operations Center which oversees the city’s response to COVID-19.

Cosgrove was given special recognition at Monday’s meeting and presented with a bouquet of flowers.

“When I came to Juneau, I fell in love with public service, it was such a great culture when I arrived,” Cosgrove said. “I think I left it a little bit better than when I got here ,but it was already pretty darn good.”

• Contact reporter Peter Segall at psegall@juneauempire.com. Follow him on Twitter at @SegallJnuEmpire.

More in News

(Juneau Empire file photo)
Aurora forecast through the week of Feb. 1

These forecasts are courtesy of the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Geophysical Institute… Continue reading

Aaron Surma, executive director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness Juneau and the Juneau Suicide Prevention Council, gives a solo testimony to the Juneau Board of Education on Feb. 6, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
On top of a flat-funded BSA, Juneau Board of Education considers loss of local funding and grants

Principals and mental health advocate give feedback as the Juneau School District plans FY26 budget.

Cars arrive at Juneau International Airport on Thursday, July 11, 2024. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Juneau’s airport asking long-ago manager Dave Palmer to return temporarily amidst leadership changes

Palmer would return in April as longtime manager retires; Assembly removes two airport board members.

Pittman’s Pub, which has a bar tent located next to the Hooter chairlift and Fish Creek Lodge, will not open this season, its co-owners told Eaglecrest Ski Area’s board of directors Thursday. Eaglecrest Ski Area photo)
Pittman’s Pub owners say they won’t open at Eaglecrest this year due to cost, space difficulties

Couple says they would like to take over ski area’s restaurant, continue as a year-round operation.

The Alaska Senate unanimously approves a bill Friday rejecting a recommendation to adjust lawmakers’ salaries for inflation. (Official Alaska State Legislature livestream)
Alaska Senate unanimously rejects automatic salary hikes for top state officials

Commission recommendation for adjustments matching inflation takes effect unless lawmakers say no.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Police calls for Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Police calls for Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Police calls for Monday, Feb. 3, 2025

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

A sexual assault kit. (Photo from Alaska Department of Public Safety)
Gov. Dunleavy proposes bill to streamline Alaska sexual assault kit tracking system

Gov. Mike Dunleavy has introduced legislation to set a statewide tracking system… Continue reading

Most Read