NICOLLET — Three Nicollet City Council incumbents who have refiled for their positions in the November general election. The incumbents are Mayor Fred Froehlich and council members Matt Anthony and Mary Wels.

Fred Froehlich comes with many years of experience of working for the city. He has served on the city council for over 20 years.

He refiled for mayor because he wants to try and help control costs for residents of Nicollet.

“I want to see orderly growth in the city. With the cost of inflation, I am not sure what this economy is going to do so I want to be here to help with whatever I can do,” said Froehlich.

Another major concern is the emerald ash borer in ash trees. “We need to have an ordinance on how to handle the ash trees in Nicollet. We want to be sure they are taken down before they become a danger to the public,” said Froehlich.

Froehlich has lived in Nicollet most of his life and is well known in the area. He graduated from Nicollet High School in 1967. He served from 1969-70 with the U.S. Navy and was honorably discharged after serving aboard the USS Coral Sea CVA-43. He retired from the U.S. Postal Service in 2008 and served 20 years with the Nicollet Volunteer Fire and Rescue. He is an active member of the Nicollet Conservation Club.

Froehlich served on the Highway 14 Partnership as their Vice Chairman. He has also served on the Rural City Fire Association and Planning/Zoning committees.

Matt Anthony has refiled for his council position. This will be his third term as he started on the council in 2016.

“I decided to refile for his position to give back to the community and to help the community,” said Anthony.

“I think the biggest issues facing the community is what the whole world is facing with inflation and tax increases. Just trying to stay “above water” financially with all the issues around the world happening right now,” he added.

He has been active with committee work on the Street Committee and the Nuisance/Blight Committee. He is also a part of the MN Council of Government which is a group of people from small southern Minnesota cities. “We get together and run ideas off each other and see how each other functions as a city. We hear what they are doing with their economic issues. We try to align with similar thoughts and processes by utilizing them as a joint resource,” said Anthony.

Anthony graduated from Nicollet Public School in 2004. He has lived in the city of Nicollet since 2012 with his wife and two children. He is employed at Alliana Health System in New Ulm as a pharmacy technician.

Mary Wels has refiled for her council member position. This will be her fourth term as she started on the council in 2012.

She has served on the water/sewer committee for many years. There have been many improvements including checking every home in Nicollet for compliance with sump pumps and properties proper water removal. The council has brought their water financial state out of the red to paying for itself.

Wels and Council Member Kevin Ostermann have been rewriting and in the process of implementing a new City Personnel Policy. “This policy needed to be updated and promises to keep our city employees accountable. I take pride in this accomplishment and need to mention that we have really have great city employees,” said Wels.

“I choose to run again for city council because I feel I have made positive contributions to the city. We have a good group on the council to work with for more projects,” she added.

Wels has lived in the Nicollet area all her life and graduated from Nicollet Public School in 1974. She has lived in the city of Nicollet for 50 years. She retired in 2021 after 33 years with the United States Post Office and being Nicollet’s postmaster from 2003-2021.

Nicollet School Board

The Nicollet School Board has three members whose term expires in 2024. They are Ashley Black (has refiled), Mike Slater, and Nick Thom. Matthew Cabanilla has filed for a board member so there is one board member position open to write-in votes.

Ashley Black has refiled for her position on the school board. This will be her second term on the board as she is currently in the fourth year of her first term.

“I wanted to refile for another term because I believe in the small district and want to see it succeed for the kids in this area. We have a phenomenal administration team. Robin Courrier stepping into her new role last January as our Superintendent and 9-12 Principal, and Nancy Remmert as our K-8 Principal both leading the school. They are great additions to Nicollet and have been well received by staff. I want to provide continued support not only for them but for the teachers at Nicollet. With making balanced decisions for all parties between school staff, students, and the community,’ said Black.

“I have been on the Nicollet County Collaborative, which is a committee that I have extensive knowledge on from my previous experience. The collaborative brings together as partners Nicollet County Public Health and Social Services, Minnesota Valley Action Council, Minnesota Valley Education District, and St. Peter Public Schools. The mission is to strengthen the resilience and protective factors of families, schools, and communities. Working together to get state funds received to be disbursed to partners for endeavors that align with the mission. As part of our cooperative special education district agreement, I am the sitting board member on the school board for Minnesota Valley Education District. Other member districts are Cleveland Public Schools, Lake Crystal Welcome Memorial, Maple River, St. Clair, and St. Peter. Minnesota Valley Education District (MVED) provides resources and guidance to schools and families who service children with physical, mental, or emotional disabilities,” she added.

Black has lived in Nicollet since 2014. Her daughter attended NPS from preschool through eighth grade. Her son will be starting preschool this fall.

This is Matthew Cabanilla’s first time filing for a member of the school board.

Cabanilla grew up in rural Nicollet and is a 1997 graduate of Nicollet High School. He currently lives in Nicollet with his wife and seven year old son. They have lived in the city of Nicollet since 2013.

Cabanilla attended NPS from kindergarten through 12th grade. His son is currently a second grade student at NPS. “As a parent with a child who is in the early stages of his education, I want to play a larger role for him, his classmates, friends, and all students who attend NPS as they progress through their elementary and high school education,” said Cabanilla.

“I feel that Nicollet has a great opportunity to continue to grow as a community. And, as it does, this will continue to increase the enrollment at NPS.”

“Nicollet is only a short distance from Mankato. Other communities that are relatively the same size and distance from Mankato such as Eagle Lake and Lake Crystal have provided families to live in smaller communities and provide opportunities to children to attend quality schools in smaller classrooms where children have the ability to learn and grow while having more time to understand and connect with their teachers.”

“In order to do this NPS needs to provide courses and classes that will entice students to attend and provide them with the knowledge and education they will require once they graduate. The challenges that will arise from offering classes that NPS does not currently provide will ultimately come down to financial obligations that will affect both the residents of Nicollet and the school.”

Cabanilla concluded, “I believe Nicollet is a small community with a small school but there is abundance of opportunities for the community and NPS.”

Cabanilla has worked for the City of Mankato for over 18 years. He is the Superintendent of the Mayo Clinic Health Systems Event Center. He oversees the day-to-day event operations of the facility.