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The Battle Ground City Council has appointed Kristina Swanson as the Interim City Manager, effective April 22, 2024. The appointment was made during the April 15 City Council meeting, following the resignation announcement from former City Manager Erin Erdman. Erdman’s last day with the City of Battle Ground was April 19; she had accepted the City Manager position with the City of Kennewick, WA.
Ms. Swanson has 33 years of public service experience, including being elected to five terms as County Auditor for Cowlitz County. Before joining us in Battle Ground, Ms. Swanson served with the City of Longview, WA, working her way up from Director of Administrative Services to the City Manager position.
The Interim City Manager will serve until a permanent City Manager is selected. The City Council has approved a contract with Prothman, an executive recruitment firm, to conduct a nationwide search for Battle Ground’s next City Manager. The application period is currently open, with the first review scheduled to occur after May 26th.
In accordance with the city's adopted council-manager form of government, the City Manager is appointed by the council and serves as the city's chief administrator.
On Thursday, April 18, 2024, at approximately 8:48am, Battle Ground Officers were dispatched to an active assault with a weapon in the 1600 block of SW 4th Street. While enroute to the scene, officers were provided preliminary information through dispatch that the victim was being assaulted by her juvenile son who was reportedly armed with a knife and a blunt object, which was later identified as a kitchen pan. Dispatch also relayed that the suspect may have harmed himself with a knife.
Upon arrival, officers contacted the adult female victim outside of the residence, who indicated that the juvenile suspect was the sole remaining occupant inside the residence. The suspect was described as a juvenile male with cognitive delays which render him non-verbal with most people.
Officers observed several cuts to the victim’s arms which were constant with injuries that would be inflicted with a bladed weapon. The victim also appeared disoriented when speaking to officers, and she stated to have been struck in the head with a kitchen pan during the altercation, which briefly rendered her unconscious.
The additional arriving officers created a perimeter around the residence to secure the scene and the victim was turned over to American Medical Response personnel for treatment. Battle Ground Officers utilized their vehicle loudspeaker to negotiate with the juvenile suspect who was still inside the residence and convinced him to exit. The suspect was taken into custody without incident and arrested.
“This was an incredibly difficult situation, and I am immensely proud of how our officers conducted the scene,” said Chief Dennis Flynn. “Their actions help bring this potentially volatile situation to a successful resolution. Our thoughts now turn to this young man and his family, in hopes that he can receive the proper mental health care assistance that he needs.”
The juvenile suspect was arrested and booked on charges of 2nd Degree Assault - Domestic Violence. This case has been forwarded to the Clark County Juvenile Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.
The victim was transported to an area hospital for additional medical treatment.
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org. Columbia River Mental Health Services (CRMHS) also provides an array of services and well-being programs for individuals and their families in the Southwest Washington region. Information for CRMHS is available online at www.crmhs.org or by calling their non-emergency number at 360-993-3000.
Battle Ground Police were dispatched shortly before 2:00pm on Monday, April 1st, for a vehicle accident at O’Reilly Auto Parts, in Battle Ground. When officers arrived, they observed a single pickup truck that had collided into the west wall of the building, breaking through the exterior brick.
Medical personnel from Fire District 3 evaluated the driver at the scene, who sustained only minor injuries. No other injuries were reported. Drugs and/or alcohol are not believed to have contributed to this accident.
The City’s Building Official and Fire Marshal have inspected the damaged wall, a main structural support for the building. The Building Official issued a closure notice until the building can be assessed by a structural engineer who will determine the full extent of the damage.
The police investigation into this incident is still ongoing. No additional information is available at this time.
After 10 years of service to the City of Battle Ground, City Manager Erin Erdman has announced her resignation effective April 19.
“It is with a heavy heart that I announce my resignation from the City of Battle Ground, a city I have come to love both professionally and personally,” said City Manager Erdman. “I want to thank the City Council and the citizens of Battle Ground for entrusting me with this responsibility for the past five years, providing me the opportunity to grow professionally.”
Erdman joined the City in 2014 as the Community Development Director. Ms. Erdman began serving as the Interim City Manager in October 2018, before officially being appointed to the role in a unanimous vote by the City Council, in April 2019.
During her tenure, Ms. Erdman was influential in the development of a community-wide vision designed to chart the direction for the City’s future, balancing the priority of growth while maintaining our hometown feel. The City’s Vision and Strategic Action Plan set the stage for the City’s Land Use Master Plan, Transportation Improvement Plan, and various Sub-Area Plans.
With overwhelming support from voters, the City saw the successful passage of the Fire District 3 Annexation in 2021 under Ms. Erdman’s leadership as City Manager. The Fire Annexation helped to reduce the City’s general fund budget expenses by $3.5 million and resulted in the decrease in utility taxes for our water, sewer, and stormwater customers while also allowing the reallocated funding of other planned improvements to the City’s public safety, roads, parks, and trails.
As City Manager, Erman led the City through the global COVID-19 pandemic, just a year after her appointment. Her management and leadership skills were critical, providing the guidance necessary to ensure the continued health and safety of our community.
Ms. Erdman’s resignation comes following her recent acceptance of the City Manager position with the City of Kennewick, Washington.
“The Council and I offer our sincere appreciation for Erin’s leadership, dedication, and numerous contributions to the City of Battle Ground,” said Mayor Troy McCoy. “I wish her well and hope she knows the incredible influence she has had in this community. The City of Kennewick is lucky to have her.”
Ms. Erdman stated, “I want to thank City staff, from the bottom of my heart. I am deeply proud of what we have accomplished together. You [City staff] are truly an impressive and dedicated group of hard-working individuals. I know the City will do great things because it has great people behind it.”
The Battle Ground City Council will discuss the next steps for the recruitment and hiring process of a new City Manager.