Suche
Mein Konto
Mayor Ulrich Schulte: Farewell after almost 40 years in the town hall!
After 40 years, Ulrich Schulte is leaving the Plettenberg town hall for northern Germany and looks back on successful projects.
Mayor Ulrich Schulte: Farewell after almost 40 years in the town hall!
On October 31, 2025, an era in the Plettenberg town hall will end. After almost 40 years of service and a ten-year term as mayor, Ulrich Schulte is stepping down from his position and handing over to the new mayor Ralf Beßler. Schulte has made numerous contributions to remarkable projects during his time and is now taking stock of his time in office while at the same time preparing for new challenges in northern Germany.
In his final days, Schulte created a guide for his successor that summarizes essential information on nine DINA4 pages. He and many citizens appreciate the successful hospital renovation, the establishment of the Röther fashion park and the creation of Ü3 daycare places as significant achievements. He is also pleased about the sale of the hospital to Radprax and the acquisition of new space in the Elsetal to expand the industrial area, even if he would have wanted to approach some decisions differently with regard to the inner city redevelopment.
A look back at the inner city redevelopment
The city center of Plettenberg is characterized by numerous improvements that were implemented under Schulte's supervision. The landscape planning office bbz from Berlin won the implementation competition and developed the plans together with the public. The inner city renovation, which began with the symbolic groundbreaking in summer 2019, includes a complete renovation of Wilhelmstrasse and the old market. In addition to the renewal of the ground pipes, water technology and new paving in the city center were also added. These measures are part of a long-term concept for the development and improvement of the quality of life in the city, which also takes into account the current and future needs of citizens, such as City Day highlights.
After the construction work on Kirchplatz continued in November 2021 and was successfully completed at the end of 2022, the renovations on Untertor and the transition to Bahnhofstrasse aim to completely complete the inner city renovation by 2026 at the latest, as soon as the last construction phase on Maiplatz begins.
The way forward
For Schulte, saying goodbye to Plettenberg is not final. He could return at the next shooting festival, even if the feasibility is still uncertain. While he prepares for an indefinite professional future, he is initially planning a half-year sabbatical to gain new experiences and find more time for his sport and the renovation of his new house, where he also wants to buy an aquarium.
Although Schulte will miss the recognition of the mayor's office, he knows the time has come to bring a breath of fresh air into his life. The focus now is on what lies ahead - a new chapter, full of opportunities and challenges. He will continue to follow developments in Plettenberg with interest, especially with regard to the FDP proposal for council TV, which is intended to offer citizens even more insight into the city's processes.
Overall, Schulte remains anchored in the city with all of his memories and the changes he initiated, while at the same time turning his gaze north. Not only is he retiring from office, but he is also setting the course for a new beginning.