Litchfield City Council Approves to Raise Sanitary Sewer Rates

The Litchfield City Council approved of the first reading of an ordinance Monday evening to raise sanitary sewer rates 3% across the board. The rate increase for residential and commercial customers is for a 10-year period.

Mayor Ron Dingmann says Bolton & Menk did a rate study and determined the rate increase was necessary due to the $40-to-60-million in wastewater treatment projects and MPCA regulations. He says there is an industrial user agreement with First District Association as they are participating in a significant share of the costs. Residents who are 70 and older are able to apply for a discount in their sewer rate at City Hall.

Mayor Dingmann says the Council had a discussion Monday evening about a future equipment needs list that the administration put together. He says there were several items on the list that are under $25,000 which is the limit that purchases can be made without Council approval so a motion passed to allow items on the list for 2025 and 2026 to be purchased.

Mayor Dingmann says the Council also approved of a walking track membership option for the Litchfield Area Recreation Center from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. each day this winter – from November through March – for a $50 fee; approved of the Litchfield Rail being the City’s official newspaper; and approved of spending $4,680 to have David Felt light a tree in Central Park as he has done in past years. He says the Light Up Litchfield Committee will also be decorating the park with the large lighted candy canes and other decorations to make it look really fabulous.