COMMUNITY - Matthew Bartsch graduated from NRHEG in 2008 and was elected mayor last November. Star Eagle photo by Melanie Piltingsrud
By MELANIE PILTINGSRUD
Staff Writer
Matthew Bartsch, who originally hails from Geneva, was sworn in as the new mayor of Ellendale on Jan. 14, 2021.
“It was exciting,” said Bartsch concerning his first day as mayor. “Honestly, I was very excited to start.” Bartsch spent that first meeting learning the routine of the agenda. “I'm sure I misspoke a few times that first [meeting], but it was fun!”
Bartsch graduated from NRHEG in 2008, and subsequently attended the University of North Dakota for five years, studying mechanical engineering and industrial technology during his general studies major. He moved to Ellendale in 2014.
Bartsch enjoys the sense of community in Ellendale. “Everybody is just very positive,” said Bartsch. “I really enjoy this community and meeting the people in it.”
Bartsch and a friend of his, Derek Bartness, had contemplated running for council for years. Last year as elections came around, the two finally decided to jump in, and both were elected – Bartness as council member, and Bartsch as mayor.
Bartsch speaks of the similarities between his day job and being mayor of Ellendale. Bartsch works as a manufacturing engineer for the automotive industry at Minimizer in Owatonna. It's his job to find out what the operators there need in order to do their jobs in the most efficient manner possible. “My daily job is helping people,” said Bartsch, “and this is very similar – as far as listening to different people, their requirements, and coming up with solutions. It just seemed like a natural fit.” The main difference that Bartsch points out between the two positions is that, as mayor, he's listening to and helping not just a couple of operatives, but 600 – 700 people.
A big topic at the Ellendale city council this year has been repainting the mural downtown. “It's a big asset to our downtown, and people see it when they drive through,” said Bartsch. “Gwen Reese has done some excellent work as far as organizing and fundraising for it.” Reese, who owns Two Doves Boutique in Ellendale, organized both the Fall Festival in October and the Spring into Ellendale event in April. The funds raised from those events will go toward the mural. “On our end, we have to do the project planning, and making sure the easements are there – the more technical stuff,” said Bartsch.
Another change Bartsch would like to see is the expansion of Ellendale's tax base in order to improve its economic position. “We have quite a few vacant lots in our new additions. I'd like to see those fill up,” said Bartsch. The City of Ellendale is considering partnering with a developer in the hopes of creating new apartments on the west end of town.
“I enjoy meeting with our committees,” said Bartsch. Some of the committees Bartsch meets with are the Joint Powers Ambulance Board, which recently approved of a new ambulance for Ellendale; the EDA Board, which is working on the new apartment project; and the Parks and Trails Committee. “They have some good designs and things that they would like to see the city do,” said Bartsch. “We'll have to budget for that in the coming years.”
Another change Bartsch would like to see in Ellendale is more community involvement now that many of the Covid restrictions have been lifted. “It has been great,” said Bartsch, who conjectures that the pandemic created a lot of pent-up demand from people wanting to get out and do something.
One upcoming opportunity for people to get out is Ellendale Days, set for the weekend of June 25, 26 and 27, and Bartsch will be volunteering to help with events for that.
“I think quite a few people asked me, 'Why do you want that job?'” said Bartsch of being mayor, but he admits, “I really enjoy it! Yeah, sometimes you have to be a sounding board. People will call, and they have complaints, or they have concerns with the city, and you just have to hear them out and see what we can do to better it. And that's what I love, is the citizens are always just trying to look out for how can we better the community.”
After all, helping the citizens achieve their vision of a great community is what being mayor is all about.