Contented NU leaders make few resolutions

By RON LARSEN

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- Many Americans mark the beginning of a new year by developing a list of resolutions aimed at self-improvement during the course of the ensuing year.

Of course, the usual result is that most such resolutions are broken and/or forgotten before the new year is out of the box, so to speak. Nevertheless, those who tried but failed to keep their New Year's resolutions seem to feel refreshed having tried.

So, it was surprising to learn in this community, where two out of every three people can claim to have sprung from good, solid German stock, there would be those who possibly have never considered the need for even a light-hearted attempt at grabbing the self-improvement ring offered by making New Year's resolutions.

Exhibit A would be the town's Bürgermeister, Joel Albrecht.

"I've never made one primarily because I'm sure I couldn't keep it anyway."

"I literally gave it no thought (of making resolutions)," said Terry Sveine, the Chamber of Commerce's tourism guy.

"I haven't even been asked that for years. Isn't that funny it's such a tough question," laughed Rep. Brad Finstad, R-New Ulm.

Even New Ulm's former mayor, Arnold Koelpin, a true gentleman in German clothing who would seem to support the value of self-improvement measures in his self-effacing way, replied: "Gee, I'm not one who normally makes resolutions."

Even though the current mayor had to think about it for a while, all who were asked rose to the occasion. Here, then, are their contributions:

"My resolution would be to enjoy life more and take time to find peace and serenity." -- Brown County Sheriff Tim Brennan.

"My resolution for 2004 is to continue to serve the public as well as I have in the past. No, there will be no upgrades on that." -- Mayor Joel Albrecht.

"My one goal is to finally at long last make a plan for my garden. I've got these three lots here, and every year I just buy and plant, buy and plant and buy and plant, and I've never had a plan. So maybe if I put it in the paper ..." -- Councilor Ruth Ann Webster.

"My personal resolution is to exercise more and eat less. Please note, I did not say drink less. My resolution for the city would be to get more housing into the area." -- Council President Dan Beranek.

"One thing I need to do is to resolve to understand all the gadgets I got for Christmas. To keep up with technology, that's my resolution. (He got a Palm Pilot and a GPS unit.)" -- City Manager Brian Gramentz.

"I guess I would (resolve to) lose 20 pounds, increase my own business, learn to play harmonica and drums better and continue working on my family history." -- Terry Sveine.

"My resolution would be to not plan the city's 200th anniversary." -- Councilor Ron Fleischmann, chairman of New Ulm's 150th anniversary celebration in 2004.

"In line with the new JOBZone, this next year I want to see some new jobs added to our district. It's something we've put in place, and it would be nice to see some jobs come out of it." -- State Rep. Brad Finstad, R-New Ulm.

"I want to reduce my bottomline, lose some weight, and increase Heritagefest's bottomline this year." -- Heritagefest Director Kathleen Backer.

"One of the things I want to do is to chase the Asian beetles from our screened porch. Also, since we're a little more fancy-free, we want to visit each of our children and grandchildren at least once this year. (They're scattered all the way from Johnson City, Tenn., to Dallas and Green Bay, Wis.) It would be almost a resolution, too, to spend less time at the computer. Also, I'm helping with ACH ya Too, and I would like to help turn it into ACHieve." -- Foerm mayor Arnold Koelpin.