Litchfield City Council Meeting

The Litchfield City Council meeting began last night with the installation of the Council members who were reelected in November, and with a proclamation from Mayor Ron Dingmann declaring January 6th, 2025 as Dean Urdahl Day in Litchfield. Dingmann recognized many of Urdahl’s accomplishments during his 22-years in the Minnesota House of Representatives.

Two public hearings were held during Monday’s Litchfield City Council meeting – one to consider property tax abatements related to the $10-million in bonds the Council authorized in December; and the other to consider the sale of public property on North Gorman Avenue to Gregg Schilling. The Council approved of resolutions related to both items.

The Litchfield City Council approved of a certificate of appropriateness application for Shelbie Cox at 134 North Sibley Avenue; approved of council committee appointments; approved of Marco providing IT services; approved of plans and authorized bidding for the Civic Arena floor project; and appointed Heather Guyan to the Library Board, Rick Beecroft and Holly Flemming to the Heritage Preservation Commission, Steve Nelson to the Housing & Redevelopment Authority, Brian Danielson to the Police Commission, and Mike Bredeson to the Library Board.

The Council had a lengthy discussion about the $2-million that the Legislature appropriated in the bonding bill to be used for preserving building facades in Litchfield’s historic downtown district, and the meetings that are being held by New History to help with the process of using those funds. A resolution was approved to hire New History for monthly meetings in 2025.