Litchfield City Council Approves Bids for 6-Unit T-Hangar and Johnson/Drive 260th Street Project

The Litchfield City Council approved of plans and specifications on Monday evening for a couple of projects. Bids are being sought for a 6-unit T-hangar at the airport, and for the Johnson Drive/260th Street project.

Mayor Ron Dingmann says Johnson Drive will be connected to 260th Street on the west side of Walmart and 260th Street will be widened and will include a 10-foot bike path. That project is estimated to cost $3.4-million. He says the City received a $1.5-million state grant to help fund that project, so the City will bond for the rest; and most of the $1.4-million hangar project will be covered with federal funds with the City and State each contributing $35,600.

Mayor Dingmann says HRA Director Jenny Klima spoke to the Council Monday evening about a lot at 502 South Hubbard Avenue that the HRA is hoping to purchase from Ecumen for $115,000. He says the HRA will receive $95,000 in a state-wide affordable aid funding stream from Meeker County, and then Meeker County and Litchfield will each contribute $20,000 in a 0%, 5-year deferred loan toward the lot purchase for a future affordable housing complex.

Mayor Dingmann says the Litchfield City Council also had the annual Board of Review hearing on Monday evening and approved of a reduction in valuation for 9 Cedar Meadows lots from $43,000 to $36,500 each. He says the Council also had some discussion about the possibility of a 4-way stop at 5th Street and Gilman Avenue, but that item was tabled and it may lead to a city-wide traffic study in the future.