WOODLAND — The city of Woodland will have a new public works director as the city tentatively selected Battle Ground resident Michael Strauch as their choice, City Administrator Peter Boyce confirmed Friday.
Boyce said that the city planned on making a conditional offer of employment to Strauch contingent upon a background check and working out an employment agreement. Both Strauch and another finalist for the position, Woodland resident and manager at Sunset Equipment in St. Helens, Ore., Shawn LaRoy, were at the city council chamber Sept. 27 for a meet and greet, where they explained what made them fit for the job.
Strauch’s chief experience related to the job was working as a district maintenance manager in Portland for the Oregon Department of Transportation for roughly five years. He explained he managed 200 people and roughly 350 pieces of equipment, taking care of everything from snow plowing to pavement.
He said that he and his family wanted to escape the chaotic lifestyle of the big city, hence their move to Clark County, which he said they have enjoyed living in ever since.
Strauch said he spent 20 years in the U.S. Army as a military police officer where he rose to the rank of master sergeant. He mentioned that the opportunity in Woodland was perfect for him, explaining that he didn’t think he would have a similar opportunity given that most public works director positions require them to be certified engineers with the state, not the degrees in criminal justice and public administration he carries.
“I can read plans, I can understand blueprints, I know what I’m doing with them,” Strauch remarked.
He said his experience makes up for lack of any “official” certification. Strauch said that given the usual engineering requirement, he wouldn’t be using the position as some sort of “stepping stone” to a director position in a bigger city.
Strauch brings connections with officials at the Washington State Department of Transportation through his past experience, which could be helpful for projects in the city, he explained. He said one of the first things he would plan on doing is getting familiar with the roads in the city, looking at conditions and traffic problems for possible solutions to issues.
“I’m definitely not a sit behind the desk person,” Strauch remarked, explaining his goal was to get out into the field to see what public works could do to make Woodland better.
The city used the Prothman Company to help with tracking down a worthy candidate, which Boyce believed help to identify the best person for the job. Roughly 1,700 direct mailings, as well as the company’s own internal list of individuals seeking employment, worked in Woodland’s favor.
Boyce said that Strauch is “a very intelligent, organized individual” with employment history that made him the best choice. He explained that following the meet and greet, the finalists were interviewed by two panels the next day featuring other public works directors, city councilors, citizens and city staff who then made a recommendation to Mayor Will Finn.
Boyce said that Woodland City Council would need to ratify the decision, which he said would occur Oct. 17 at the earliest.
