Brown County Recorder Weilage named state's best

By SARA SYVERSON

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- This is Tom Weilage's year to shine as the "Outstanding Recorder of the Year for 1999".

Weilage has been Brown County's Recorder since 1981 and prior to that time he worked as the county deputy recorder since July of 1964. In 1967 he and his wife Charlene moved to New Ulm in 1967 from Sleepy Eye where they were both raised.

This honor was bestowed on Weilage from the Minnesota Association of County Officers, which includes recorders, auditors and treasurers of 87 counties in Minnesota). The award was presented to him at the annual winter conference held Jan. 18-21, 2000 at the Minnesota Association of County Officers in Minneapolis.

"It was a complete surprise and I was very honored to get it," said Weilage, "I've been in the Association long enough to know that there are many other recorders worthy of this honor. It was nice."

Weilage was nominated by several other county recorders in the state who wrote letters to the Association about why he deserved the honor.

The county recorder's office deals with handling things such as birth and death certificates, marriage licenses, passports for the general public and they also work with attorney's and realtors.

Since October Weilage's wife, Charlene, knew about the nomination after she took a phone call from another county recorder who had nominated him.

"They (Association members) look at all the information (from the nominations) then decide who they will give the award to," said Weilage.

As county recorder Weilage attends two annual meetings in the winter and the summer which last approximately two and a half days. The winter conference brings together all three different associations (recorder, auditor and treasurer) and the summer conference is strictly for recorders.

"These conferences teach us everything we need to know to be county recorders," said Weilage, " There is formal schooling for becoming a recorder."

Weilage said he has enjoyed his years serving as Brown County recorder. Before he became county recorder he worked with Aleen Christiansen learning how to do the position. He remembers Christiansen telling him that it was nice clean work. Weilage was appointed to fulfill the term of Christiansen for one year and the following year he ran in the election to become county recorder and won. He has won every election since for the position of recorder.

"It's nice work," said Weilage, "I never thought I'd stay as long as I have. I started a job to have a job and I liked it so well I just stayed and stayed. You never have the same thing two days in a row."

The daily variety of responsibilities is one of the best features of the job for him, he said.

"It's a challenge everyday," said Weilage, "You are working with a lot of different people. It's gratifying to be able to give them the information they need. If they can go away feeling they've gotten what they want it's good and I have a great staff who are very knowledgeable in what they do."