Litchfield City Council Meeting

The Litchfield City Council had a visit last evening from officials of Southern Minnesota Municipal Power Agency (SMMPA) and Great River Energy regarding a future voltage conversion project. A 70-mile power line, supplying electricity to Litchfield, will be upgraded in about the next 5 years.

The aging power line will increase from its current 69KV to 115KV, with 50 miles being rebuilt and 20-miles of new line. Great River Energy’s portion of the project will cost about $82-million, while SMMPA’s share will be about $20-million, with up to $15-million dollars for substation infrastructure. City Administrator Dave Czoik says the costs of the project will affect future electricity rates in Litchfield.

The Litchfield City Council has approved of a request from the Litchfield HRA for a $20,000 deferred loan from the hazardous building fund to help with the purchase of a parcel of property near Meeker Manor that could be used for an affordable housing complex. HRA Director Jenny Klima says Ecumen owns the land and is willing to sell it for $115,000. She says Meeker County approved of a $95,000 loan to the Litchfield HRA toward the project earlier this month.

The Council approved of plans and specifications for the 260th Street/Johnson Drive project on the west side of Walmart and gave City Engineer Chuck DeWolf permission to seek bids for the project. The Council also approved of plans and specifications for the t-hangar project at the airport, and gave DeWolf permission to seek bids for that project.

The Litchfield City Council also approved of an updated landlord agreement with First District Association with CoBank as administrative agent which will help get the pre-treatment project underway; and approved of a variance request for Thomas & Deborah Holtz at 711 Capwood Avenue for a fence extension project at their residence.