By Leah Sander
InkFreeNews

ROCHESTER — Trent Odell said he aims to be “approachable” as a leader.

“I hope that people will see that,” he said. “That my door’s open, and I can’t answer every call at the moment that comes in, but I will try and I want to hear from the people.”

Odell started his first term as mayor Jan. 1.

Rochester Mayor Trent Odell

It’s a role he’d considered running for in the past but didn’t until he was “approached about it,” he said.

It’s the first time he’s ever served in a public office, with him noting he never ran for anything until last year.

Odell is originally from west of Kokomo.

He graduated from Northwestern High School in 1983 and obtained his associate degree in ag economics from Purdue University.

Odell then became a grain and livestock farmer and married his wife, Stacy. They’ve been married for 38 years and have two daughters and five grandchildren.

In 2012, the couple got a house on Lake Manitou before ultimately making Fulton County their permanent residence two years ago.

The Odells still own and rent farmland down south and started their lumber business in Rochester in 2019.

Odell said he thought about running for city council instead of mayor but realized he could have a faster “impact” as mayor.

He views himself as a “green light-type guy” when it comes to new endeavors.

“Don’t tell me no unless there’s no other option; otherwise, I’m going to tell people, hey, let’s try it and see what we can accomplish for the community and see if we can build some enthusiasm,” he said.

Odell said city projects being worked on include trying to bring an industrial park in.

“We know we have a housing need,” he said. “We have a hotel need, and all these things are being looked at pretty aggressively.”

“We’ve got an enhanced rail system that we’re working on continuing to develop,” Odell added. “We’re a force in the community in the fact that we have a rail service.”

Odell said he welcomes anyone to bring in ideas to him about developing the town or new community events.

That includes youth.

Odell said he’s talked with Rochester Community Schools Superintendent Jana Vance about creating “a mayoral youth advisory council that … could be a part of our government.”

“We need our kids to invest so that … they have a sense of ownership, you know,” he said.

Odell said he hopes all Rochester citizens can develop “ownership” for the city.

“I want the general attitude to get to where every individual takes ownership of their little part of the community, realizing that it all plays a huge role in selling this community,” he said. “It’s kind of like if someone comes into your home, you want your home to look the best it can before you have visitors come in, and we need to do the same thing here.”

“We have visitors come into Rochester,” he said. “They need to leave thinking that’s a neat town. It’s a well-kept town. It’s a town of friendly people, and I want to go back there sometime.”

A sign in his office states the following: “Leadership: Inspiring others to achieve, serving them so they can, and celebrating them when they do.”

Odell said the sign states how he wants to cheer on others as mayor, including the good leadership he has underneath him through his Rochester Board of Public Works and Safety members, Brett Curnutt and Gary Hartwig, and department heads.

“I am one who feels like I want to help people succeed,” he said.