City Council Rejects a Request From the Planning Commission for the City to Relax the Restrictions on the Ordinance Regarding Cannabis Sales

The Litchfield City Council met Monday evening and rejected a recommendation from the Planning Commission regarding the locations of possible cannabis retail establishments. The Planning Commission had met on December 9th and recommended that the zoning ordinance include B2, B3 and B4 as potential sales areas for cannabis with no buffer zone for schools.

Mayor Ron Dingmann, who voted in favor of the Planning Commission’s recommendation along with Councilman John Carlson, says the City wanted sales to be restricted to only B4 districts with a 700-foot buffer zone around schools. He says the vote by the Council for the Planning Commission recommendation failed on a 2-to-3 vote and then a vote to stay with the City’s recommendation passed on a 3-to-2 vote.

Mayor Dingmann says the Council also had a presentation on Monday evening from Shane Zeppelin and Janaye Prieve of the Visitors Bureau with Zeppelin reviewing the Bureau’s 2024 promotions, and Prieve presenting the 2025 budget which the Council approved. He says Greg Langmo and Jim Ellingson also spoke to the Council on behalf of the Golden Fleece Lodge with their idea of constructing a timber-framed picnic shelter at South Park using local trees. The project will probably take place in 2026.

Mayor Dingmann says the Litchfield City Council accepted a low quote from Litchfield Building Center for installing a sloped roof on the old rescue hall for $36,908. He says the Council also approved of a 3-year lease for the 165-acres of farm land around the airport with Kurt Piepenburg.