An incumbent Freeborn County commissioner running for re-election for his fifth term on the board wants the county to continue to build its infrastructure to attract business.

Glen Mathiason, 65, of 66337 220th St. outside of Alden is running for re-election in District 1 against Ronald Jacobsen.

“The best thing the county can do is to continue to work towards building and maintaining the infrastructure throughout the area,” Mathiason said. “This will help to attract business.”

Representatives and senators need to make the area more tax-friendly to compete with Iowa, Mathiason said.

He said though Freeborn County does not own an industrial park or have staff who are experienced in economic development, the county has a positive relationship with Albert Lea Economic Development Agency.

“(ALEDA Executive Director) Ryan Nolander and his staff do an excellent job of promoting Albert Lea and Freeborn County,” he said. “They coordinate the needs of the interested parties with services offered within Albert Lea or throughout the county.”

Freeborn County needs to continue to use tax increment financing districts and tax abatement to encourage entrepreneurship, Mathiason said.

He also suggested lobbying state local senators and representatives for incentives so Freeborn County can compete economically with Iowa.

Mathiason said he has goals that if elected, he hopes to continue to meet.

“My goals since becoming a commissioner are to have a clean, safe, productive place to live, work, raise a family or retire,” he said. “I will continue to work to achieve this for the county.”

Mathiason suggested Freeborn County collaborate with other counties to help reverse the county’s declining population.

“It’s tough to reverse this trend, but if we work collectively with other outstate rural counties and receive a little help from our state Legislature, maybe we can turn things around,” he said.

On needed Freeborn County road repair projects, Mathiason said, “The county has a five-year plan in place on addressing the roads in need of repair. We try to adhere to this plan, but occasionally we divert from it to fix unexpected problems.”

Freeborn County uses a 1/2-percent sales tax and wheel tax for road repair. County roads 1 through 51 qualify for state aid, which can reach 90 percent of a project, Mathiason said.

“Occasionally we can tap into federal funds, which will be available on the Freeborn County Road 22 Bridge Avenue in 2017 and 2020 or 2021,” he said.

Mathiason supports the 1/2-percent sales tax the Shell Rock River Watershed District has used to clean area lakes. Extending the sales tax for either 15 years or until $15 million is collected will be on November’s ballot. Extending the sales tax is important to prevent a property tax in the district, Mathiason said.

“When the 1/2-percent sales tax went into effect, the goal was to achieve clean water,” he said. “I think emphasis has been and still is working on that goal, and I agree with moving toward that outcome.”

According to Mathiason, Freeborn County has a pretty good quality of life.

“Granted, there is always room for improvement,” he said. “I feel if we move forward with consistency and a positive attitude, we will see improvement.”

Mathiason said though he does not see any glaring issues that need to be addressed, “if something does arise, I believe the county board and staff have the ability to address it immediately and work through it.”

A lifelong Alden-area farmer, Mathiason was first elected to the board in 2000. He has an adult daughter, Shannan; and twin grandchildren, Noah and Bryn.

District 1 commissioner

Incumbent: Glen Mathiason

Challenger: Ronald Jacobsen