Litchfield City Council Meeting

The Litchfield City Council interviewed two candidates – Bob Powers and Mick Spillane – for the Ward 5 seat last evening. Six rounds of voting which ended each time in a 3-to-3 tie could not decide the winner – so a coin toss did the job and Bob Powers is the new council member – filling the seat vacated by Sara Miller.

During the interview process, Powers highlighted his 19 years of serving on the Atwater City Council – 6 years as mayor – and numerous other civic duties in that community before moving to Litchfield 21 years ago. As a retiree, he says he will have lots of time to devote to the position. Spillane spoke about being a manufacturing engineer and moving to Litchfield 7 years ago from the metro area with his wife and their 7 children.

After each of the six rounds of voting, Mayor Ron Dingmann and Council members Malinda Larson and John Carlson voted for Spillane, and Council members Eric Mathwig, Darlene Kotelnicki and Betty Allen voted for Powers. Finally, it was agreed by the Council to decide the fate of the seat with a coin toss, and Litchfield Rail Editor Brent Schacherer was asked to flip a coin. Powers called “heads” and it was heads. Powers then took the oath of office.

Also last night, the Litchfield City Council approved of a resolution authorizing Greystone Construction to proceed with the salt storage facility project; and a motion was approved directing the staff to formalize future Public Works facility needs. Certificates of appropriateness were also approved for Serenity Rentals & Events at 207 North Sibley Avenue for a new double-door entrance at that building, and for Michael Niedzielski at 112 North Sibley Avenue for brick paneling to cover an inactive door.