Litchfield City Council Meeting

The Litchfield City Council had a visit last night from Greg Langmo and Jim Ellingson from the Golden Fleece Masonic Lodge. Members of the lodge would like to work with the City in the construction of a timber frame picnic shelter at South Park.

The Council was also visited by Janaye Prieve and Shane Zeppelin of the Litchfield Visitors Bureau with an annual report. Prieve presented budget information and the Council approved of the 2025 budget. Zeppelin, who will be stepping down after 6 years as President of the Visitors Bureau, reviewed the promotions that the Bureau has implemented this past year.

The Council had a lengthy discussion regarding a request from the Planning Commission for the City to relax the restrictions that it put on the ordinance regarding cannabis sales. The Council wanted sales only in B4 areas with a 700-foot buffer around schools. The Planning Commission asked that B2 and B3 areas also be included with no buffer zones for schools. A resolution, supported by Council Member John Carlson and Mayor Ron Dingmann to go along with the Planning Commission’s proposal failed on a 2-to-3 vote. A resolution to keep the sale area restricted to B4 with a buffer around schools passed on a 3-to-2 vote with Council Members Eric Mathwig, Darlene Kotelnicki and Sara Miller in favor.

The Council also approved of replacing the roof at the old Rescue Hall, which is now used by the City for storage, with a sloped roof. Litchfield Building Center had submitted a quote for the project for $36,908.06. The Litchfield City Council also approved of the 2025 lease for the farm land at the municipal airport.