Meeker County Board Meeting

The Meeker County Board of Commissioner approved of a resolution Tuesday approving of the establishment of a tax increment financing (TIF) district for the City of Litchfield. The TIF district is for a multi-family housing development at 415 South Ramsey Avenue.

Jason Aarsvold from Ehlers says Midtown Lofts plans to construct a 60-unit, $11.9-million market rate rental complex and the TIF amount would be $688,888 for a 9-year period. He says the City of Litchfield approved of a preliminary planned unit development back on April 15th and will consider final approval at its August 19th meeting, and the TIF requires approval from both the County and School District.

The Board approved of an interim ordinance establishing a moratorium on the operation of cannabis businesses in Meeker County. The moratorium will give the County time to undertake a process to study and conduct hearings on amending or adopting official controls authorized by Minnesota statute relating to cannabis businesses.

The Commissioners approved of amendments to the Meeker County solar, wind and energy storage system ordinances on a 4-to-1 vote with Julie Bredeson opposed. The Board also approved of rescinding the interim ordinance that instituted a moratorium on large solar energy systems and wind energy conversion systems.

The Meeker County Commissioners approved of the appointment of Katherine Fenrich to the Public Health Advisory Board; approved of out-of-state travel/training for detectives Seth Louks and Josh Case in Deadwood, South Dakota; approved of hiring a health educator for opioid and suicide prevention with funding from a Minnesota Dept. of Health grant and from the opioid settlement; approved of hiring a social worker for the Community First Services & Supports and Community Access for Disability Inclusion Program with funding coming from those two programs; and approved of a $10,000 grant with the Minnesota Dept. of Veterans Affairs for the Meeker County Veterans Service Office.