NEW ULM – During their first meeting of 2026 on Tuesday, The New Ulm City Council approved a list of appointments to the different city boards, commissions and committees.

Councilor David Christian will serve on the Economic Development Authority (EDA) board and Park and Recreation Commission.

Councilor Eric Warmka is appointed to the Personnel Committee, Brown County Solid Waste Advisory Board; Brown, Lyon, Redwood Drug Task Force, Fire Department Relief Association Board and council vice president.

Councilor Tom Schmitz is appointed to the Heritage Preservation Commission and Cable Communication Advisory Board.

Councilor Larry Mack is appointed to the Planning Commission.

Council President Andrea Boettger is appointed to the EDA, Personnel Committee, Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities (CGMC), Law Enforcement Center Management Committee, and Region 9.

Mayor Kathleen Backer is appointed to CGMC, Minnesota River Valley Coalition of Kaolin, Minnesota Valley Council of Governments and New Ulm Convention and Visitors Bureau.

In the New Ulm Fire Department, Arron Wilfahrt will serve as First Assistant Chief with Nathan Osborne as Second Assistant and Trent Zabel as Fire Marshal.

The law firm Flaherty & Hood will continue operating as the City attorney.

The Journal will remain the official newspaper for the City of New Ulm.

The council also approved Mayoral appointments to city boards and commissions.

Ron Brutlag was re-appointed to the Heritage Preservation Commission.

Human Rights Commission saw the re-appoint of Obehioye Okojie, Katie Dorschner, Pastor David Nissen and the appointment of Kassaundra Thompson.

Yvonne Weber was re-appointed to the Library Board.

Monuments & Cemetery Commission saw the re-appointment of Darla Gebhard and the appointment of Cara Knauf.

Park & Recreation Commission saw the re-appointment of Kurt Johnson and the appointment of Anne Earl and Greig Glover.

For the Planning Commission, Cate Macho was appointed and Joe Schotzko was re-appointed.

Kim Williams and Seth Visser were both re-appointed to Public Utilities Commission (PUC).

Sister Cities Commission saw the re-appointment of Tony Beranek and appointment of Lorie Jewell.

The council unanimously approved all the appointments and designations. Council President Boettger noted there were other vacancies that would need to filled later in the year. There are currently two vacancies on the Sister Cities Commission, one of the Cable Communications Advisory Board and one vacancy on the Board of Health.