Mayor Romo Reflects On Five Years Of Progress

Ask Bainville Mayor Toby Romo what he’s most proud of after five years in office, and he won’t point to a single project or ribbon cutting.

Instead, he’ll talk about the people.

“When people who grew up here see pictures of Bainville now, they’ll tell us how proud they are of their hometown,” Romo said. “Those are really rewarding moments.”

Since taking office in 2021, Romo and the Bainville Town Council have focused on improving the community one project at a time. From upgrading aging infrastructure to improving parks, streets and public spaces, many of those efforts have been made possible through grants, partnerships and plenty of community support.

Romo said his decision to run for mayor came from a simple realization.

“I found myself complaining about how the town looked,” he said. “Finally, I realized if I was going to complain, I needed to get involved.”

One of the largest projects completed during the past five years isn’t something residents see every day.

With the help of an American Rescue Plan Act grant, Bainville connected its water system to a newer pipeline that had been installed during the Bakken oil boom. The project created a second water supply into town, replacing the community’s reliance on a single water line that had been in service since the 1940s.

“If something ever happened to that old line, we’d have been scrambling,” Romo said. “Now we have a backup, and that’s a big improvement.”

Around town, residents have likely noticed other changes.

New sidewalks and curb improvements have been added near the park, cemetery roads have been rebuilt and a new fence is being installed at the cemetery thanks to local fundraising efforts. The town has also added lighting and continues to improve streets and public spaces as funding becomes available.

This summer, Bainville also reached an agreement with the Bainville Lutheran Church to take ownership of the longtime softball field. Romo said the change allows the town to better maintain the property, make improvements and ensure it remains available for the community for years to come.

“We felt the town could maintain it better and continue improving it,” he said.

Romo is quick to point out that none of these accomplishments happened because of one person.

He credits the town council, city staff, local businesses, organizations and volunteers who have donated time, equipment and money to help move projects forward.

“I’m really proud of how well our council, our clerk and our employees work together,” Romo said. “We’ve also had tremendous support from local businesses and residents.”

Groups including the Saddle Club, Bainville FFA, alumni organizations and private residents have all played a role in community projects over ects over the past several years.

“It’s become a team e rt,” Romo said.

Another change aimed at encouraging growth was the removal of Bainville’s sewer impact fee for new homes. Romo said the town’s existing lagoon has plenty of capacity, making the fee unnecessary and allowing families to build or move homes into town more a rdably.

“We wanted to make it easier for people to build here,” he said.

Looking ahead, Romo hopes to continue improving sidewalks, complete undeveloped streets and explore the possibility of a new community building that could serve as City Hall, a senior center and a gathering place for local events.

He also hopes Bainville continues to grow – not necessarily in size, but in community spirit.

This year’s Fourth of July celebration was one example.

“So many people stepped up to help,” Romo said. “Businesses, volunteers and employees all worked together. It felt like everyone wanted to make it a great celebration.”

For Romo, that’s what the last five years have been about.

“It’s rewarding to improve the infrastructure,” he said. “But creating safe places for families, watching people take pride in their homes and seeing neighbors work together, that’s what it’s really about.”

As Bainville continues moving forward, Romo believes the town’s greatest strength remains the same as it has always been neighbors helping neighbors.

“When everyone works together,” he said, “good things happen.”