Sheriff Rodney Bartsh takes the Oath of Office Monday morning after being elected to a fourth term as the county’s top law enforcement officer in November.

A New Era

County Officials take Oath of Office Monday

by Michael Smith
It was a short, rather unglamorous 20-minute ceremony, but Monday morning’s swearing-in of all county elected officials could prove to be emblematic of a major turning point in Wabasha County politics and a doorway to a new era for all governmental operations in the county.
There was certainly a positive feel in the air in the Courtroom at the Wabasha County Justice Center Monday morning as a small crowd composed mostly of county officials and families of those taking the Oath of Office awaited the arrival of Judge Terrence Walters. Virtually everyone present preferred talking about the days and years ahead, rather than talking about and/or looking back on the often unharmonious days and years now behind them—a sign that the healing process necessitated by a divided board and much unrest over the past four years has already begun. There was talk of “cooperation” and “respect,” “openness” and “trust” among those in the courtoom and those being sworn in.
From newly-elected Commissioner Brian Goihl to County Administrator Michael Plante, from returning Commissioner and prospective new chairman Mike Wobbe to Sheriff Rodney Bartsh, all seemed to be eager and ready to start Wabasha County government off on the right foot in this new year and work together for the good of the 21,000-plus citizens of the county.
“Let the past be the past,” was the obvious theme.
“We should only look back if we want to learn from it,’ Bartsh, who was last to take the Oath, stated. “We need to move ahead.” Plante did not take the Oath of Office because his is not an elected position, but those elected officials who did were, in order: Commissioners Goihl, Wobbe and Cheryl McGrath Key, Soil and Water Conservation District Board Supervisors Roland Wood and Tom Gosse, County Attorney Karrie Kelly, Auditor/Treasurer Denise Anderson, Recorder Jeff Aitken and Bartsh.
“Certainly, this should be a time when we look to a new and different era with optimism,” Bartsh commented.
Bartsh and his department have been under a great deal of scrutiny over the past few years by former commissioners, particularly in regard to the Safe Driving Program his office implemented and since has had to drop, but he preferred to look ahead. “We should only look back as a means of learning from our mistakes and past experiences. We can use that knowledge to help us with what we can do in the future.”
The three-term sheriff, who was just elected to a fourth term, said that his goal as a law enforcement officer is no different now than what it has been throughout his career. “It’s different than most other careers. Our goal is survival…every day. But it’s also to do our job and serve our residents to the best of our ability.”
He added, “Ours is the most criticized profession, yet few people want to do our job. We’re going to go out every day and try to earn the respect of the public and survive the scrutiny, especially in these difficult times.”
Kelly was also interested in looking ahead as she takes over for the retiring Jim Nordstrom in the Attorney’s office.
“I’m looking forward to putting all the acrimony of the past behind us and working with the new board,” she commented. “I want to work with them and with my staff and other departments on new programs and opportunities…instead of fighting lawsuits.”
Wabasha-Kellogg area commissioner Mike Wobbe added, “It will be nice to be able to work with all the commissioners. It’ll be a refreshing change, I think.”
Wobbe said that he knows Goihl personally and has found him to be a very likable and knowledgeable person. “He should be great to work with. He said that while he doesn’t know Key personally, he feels she will serve the county well, also.
“It’ll be nice to get back to doing what we’re expected to do and be able to have everyone emphasize all of the positives of the county, rather than the negatives. It may take some time to put everything back together, but I’m very optimistic.”
County Planning Commission and Board of Adjustment member Gayle Gillespie of Wabasha, a regular attendee at the County Board meetings, sees nothing but positives coming from this change. “I see it as a new beginning for the County Board. While they may not always agree-—that’s not a necessity—they appear ready and willing to work together, under Mike’s (Wobbe) leadership as chairman, which hasn’t always happened in recent years.”
“But even more importantly,” Gillespie added, “the county staff will finally be getting the support they deserve. That will all come together with this new board in place, I feel. I just see nothing but positives.”
Goihl was elected in District 2, which is essentially the mid-section of Wabasha County; and McGrath Key was elected in Lake City’s District 5. They join Wobbe and incumbents Rich Hall and Chairman Don Springer on the County Board.

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