City Council Approves Land Use Map for Locating Cannabis Retailers

The Litchfield City Council has approved of a land use map showing the locations where cannabis retailers could locate their businesses within the city limits. The establishments have to be so many feet away from schools and daycare facilities.

Mayor Ron Dingmann says the City Council approved of deferring regulation and enforcement of cannabis sales to Meeker County and the attorneys are still working out the language for an ordinance. He says the Council approved of moving forward on several construction projects on Monday evening, including the replacement of the floor at the Civic Arena.

Mayor Dingmann says the City will be getting numbers together for the Civic Arena floor project which is estimated to cost $1.75-million, with the dasher boards costing an additional $495,000 and the project is expected to begin in the spring. He says the Council approved of a $44,880 project for improving the roof at the Circle 6 hangar at the airport with Airport Rescue funds covering most of the cost of that project; and approved of having the city attorney draft a developer’s agreement with Gregg Schilling for the property at 181 North Gorman Avenue where he plans to construct a housing development. A public hearing will be scheduled for that sale of public property.

Mayor Dingmann says the Council approved of moving forward with a project to extend Johnson Drive to 260th Street on the west side of Walmart and to widen 260th Street from Johnson Drive to Highway 34 and add a walking/bike path. He says that project is estimated to cost $3-million, but the city received a Local Road Improvement Program grant to cover $1.5-million. That project will begin next year and probably continue into 2026.