Ogden City Government Information

Keith Berg, Mayor

After living in Ogden and managing businesses here all these years, I want to give back to this community. I sincerely believe I have the background, education, skills and contacts that will enable me to do a good job as your mayor. It's my goal to represent the interests of the people of Ogden.

I've recently knocked on a good number of doors in the community. Some of the key concerns of the people in Ogden are:

•  basement flooding

•  deterioration of main street buildings

•  retaining businesses and services in Ogden

•  property taxes

The mayor, counsel and city administrator have diligently addressed these issues but more work needs to be done. It is my goal to help build a strong team to work toward further resolution of these issues.

The number one issue is storm water. Construction was planned to get started this fall. However, funds we had been counting on dried up at the last minute.

Main Street buildings, business concerns, and taxes could all be positively impacted with nurturing our existing businesses and hard work toward attracting more employment and business to Ogden. We have many assets, including the railroad that we need to promote, plan and sell actively.

Regarding the city budget, it is my understanding that we are in pretty good shape with the current fiscal year. We may not need to make any drastic changes due to cuts in state funding this fiscal year. I have not participated in building this budget and at this point I don't feel qualified to target any specific cuts.

I purchased Ogden Mini Storage in 1997.

My brokerage and investment business has been at 311 West Walnut for 22 years and my stepson, Adam Good, is a fully licensed broker pursuing a career and partnership with me. My father founded the investment business here in the 1970's. I joined him in 1987, following a fifteen year managerial career at John Deere, Waterloo. My last position was Overseas Representative, responsible for marketing and service support of tractors sold outside North America.

I continue the study of business and finance. I plan to complete my Masters of Sciences in Financial Services in 2010. I wholeheartedly embrace the philosophy that you are never too old to learn.

I am a current member of the following boards of directors; Boone's Future, Good Connections, and the Ogden Scholarship. I am a member of Ogden Community Development which is in the process of reorganizing. With offices in Eagle Grove, I am a member of the Eagle Grove Chamber and the Eagle Grove Economic Development group.

I have one daughter and my wife, Susan, has four sons. Our son Wade and family reside in Ogden. His business, GOOD LAWN CARE, is based in Ogden. Both of my parents live here. Thus, the future of Ogden is very important to me, my family, and my businesses.