We’re almost two weeks into the new year, and if you’re like the average American, this is the point where your New Year’s resolutions start going the way of the dinosaur.

I hope you’re still doing a better job of managing your money, eating right, exercising and focusing on faith (and if you are, by the way, you should check out our stories about resolutions in the January edition of Peach Living magazine, which is available at stands across Chilton County and at our office).

But as we thought about these resolutions, we wondered: What resolutions would local leaders make? Not resolutions about getting off the couch, of course, but resolutions about what would make their respective municipalities and organizations healthier.

The mayors of Clanton, Jemison, Maplesville and Thorsby, as well as Chilton County Commission and Chilton County Board of Education officials, gave us some great answers. The stories that can be found on the front page of today’s newspaper offer insight to what will be on the agendas for these agencies as the year progresses.

The start of a new year is also a good time for residents to think about how they can help leaders accomplish these goals. So, make this the year you attend a city council or county commission meeting. Listen to the issues your local governments are facing, let those in charge know how you feel about those issues, and do what you can to help.

It takes a community working together to make that community a better place.

–Stephen Dawkins is managing editor for The Clanton Advertiser. He can be reached at stephen.dawkins@clantonadvertiser.com.