Meet the candidates: Freeport Mayor

Freeport mayor

Incumbent mayor Mike Eveslage and Rodney Atkinson are running for mayor.

Michael Eveslage

Age: 46

Occupation: Driver for Freeport Trucking

Why are you running for this position? I’ve had the privilege of serving as mayor since 2019, and I’m running for re-election because I believe in putting Freeport first. It’s my responsibility to represent the community, and I’m committed to continuing that by listening to council members, advisors and, most importantly, the people of Freeport. My background as a social studies teacher and coach has helped me build strong relationships through active listening and open dialogue, which I’ll continue to carry forward in this role.

Share your organizational or business experiences. As a leader, I believe the most important skill is listening. I serve on the board of the Minnesota Association of Small Cities, where we advocate for small communities like Freeport. By working closely with other cities in our region, we’ve successfully secured funding for critical needs like rural emergency medical services, water and wastewater systems, transportation infrastructure and local government aid. It’s all about understanding the challenges we face and working together to find solutions.

What issue affecting your city do you find most pertinent and pressing? Why? Residential and commercial growth are top priorities. We’ve addressed the housing shortage with the Welle addition, but continued growth is essential. Without new housing, it’s hard to attract businesses. Freeport offers a great community with access to larger employment markets, making it an ideal place to raise a family and stay engaged. Thanks to our location, affordability and strong community spirit, we remain a sought-after area for homebuyers and businesses.

Are there other issues you want to address? Since becoming mayor in 2019, we’ve worked closely with residents, staff and financial experts to stabilize or lower our tax rate each year. Today, Freeport enjoys its lowest tax rates since the early 2000s, which is a testament to our council’s fiscal responsibility. We’ve also made smart, calculated investments that will benefit taxpayers long-term. Right now, we’re developing an established plan for future city leaders to ensure Freeport’s financial stability for years to come.

Rodney Atkinson

Age: 63

Occupation: Well driller

Why are you running for this position? To more conservatively manage our taxpayer’s money. I concluded that doing a housing development that is guaranteed to lose $500,000 of taxpayer money is not a good investment. The bond is $1,500,000 and the sale of the lots will be less than $1,000,000. We will receive real estate taxes but also pay bond interest. I do not think if the city receives an average of $2,000 per house per year in real estate taxes for homes in the new development it will cover the deficit. I will also manage our fund balances to get the best return on our investments.

Share your organizational or business experiences. I was mayor when we created the Economic Development Authority and the Industrial Park Development and the first Welle Country Acres housing development. The first Welle Country Acres in the late 1990s was a financial success. I usually let math and science guide my decisions. I served the city of Freeport as mayor from 1997-2002 and 2015-2018 and was on the city council in 1994, 1996 and from 2013-2014. I appointed the first EDA board and served from 1998-2013 and 2015-2018. I am a member of the Freeport Lions for 30 years and am currently vice-president.

What issue affecting your city do you find most pertinent and pressing? Why? The maintenance and replacement of infrastructure such as roads, water, sanitary sewer and storm sewer drainage. I believe the cost of maintenance is cheaper than the cost of repairs. 

Are there other issues you want to address? Managing our financial resources. Until December of 2023, our city funds were invested at .6% when the interest rate was closer to 5%. Our wastewater ponds are about 30 years old. We must eliminate rainwater from going into the sanitary sewer. I will consider requiring any real estate sale to include an inspection to verify that sump pumps are not hooked up to the sewer system. We should create a plan to develop the park in the Welle addition.