The Litchfield City Council approved of an airport grant agreement on Monday evening. A rehabilitation project is underway on the airport building and it should be completed next month.
Mayor Ron Dingmann says the FAA is covering 90% of the cost for the $221,500 project – or $199,350 and the City and State are each responsible for 5% – or $11,075 each.
Mayor Dingmann says the Council approved of a deferred loan agreement for the Midtown Lofts project through Minnesota Workforce Housing; and approved of allowing Council Member Malinda Larson to attend meetings for the rest of 2024 and 2025 remotely, as needed, while tending to a family medical situation. He says public hearings were also held Monday evening regarding the cannabis ordinance, and for the sale of the Golf Club House which is delaying the contract-for-deed to May 1st of 2025.
The Meeker County Board of Commissioners has approved of amendments which would eliminate term limits for Planning Commission, Board of Adjustment, Extension Committee and Park Commission members. Commissioners Julie Bredeson and Beth Oberg voted against the elimination of the term limits.
The Commissioners approved of rescinding an emergency interim zoning ordinance that instituted an emergency moratorium on the operation of cannabis businesses, moved to approve of an amendment to the zoning ordinance establishing a cannabis ordinance, and approved of a policy related to adult-use cannabis businesses.
The Board approved of a conditional use permit for Justin Sing of Waconia for a landscaping project at 20055 624th Avenue in Section 12 of Greenleaf Township within the Lake Minnie Belle shore land district; and approved of a conditional use permit for Ice House Solar of Wayzata for a one-megawatt solar project in Section 34 of Dassel Township on land owned by Tom Fisher.
The Meeker County Board received an update on hospital matters from Meeker Memorial CEO Mary Ellen Wells. She says the orthopedic department is doing well with the partnership between St. Cloud Orthopedics and 200 people attended an open house which was held recently. The new Meeker Memorial CFO Tyler Ulseth reported a year-to-date operating income as of the end of September of $2.6-million. Meeker McLeod Sibley Community Health Services Administrator Kiza Olson also gave the Meeker County Commissioners an update on her role and what Community Health Services does for the community.
The Light Up Litchfield contest is underway and several businesses and other entities around Litchfield have entered. The official contest period is from November 30th to December 15th and people can go around the community, look at the lights and decorations and vote for their favorite.
Monica Schreiber is part of the Light Up Litchfield Committee which has been busy coordinating the decorations for Litchfield’s Central Park. She says they’ve been working with the City to add more decorations each year.
Schreiber says there will be a special event on November 30th in Central Park which is Small Business Saturday with carolers and a visit from Mr. & Mrs. Claus from 3-to-5 p.m. and then the Mayor will speak at 5 o’clock, followed by the lighting of the decorations. She says if anyone is willing to join the Light Up Litchfield Committee, or for more information, call 693-8184.