EMS Week is being observed this week. Members of the Litchfield Rescue Squad are visiting school children this week, showing them what they do, and perhaps encouraging them to someday become first responders.
Captain Mike Massingham has been on the Litchfield Rescue Squad for 30 years and his daughter, Elizabeth, is now a 3rd generation of the Massingham family to be a Rescue Squad member, having joined the Squad just two weeks ago. Mike says they are now fully staffed with 30 members, but people are welcome to fill out applications at Litchfield City Hall.
Massingham says there are special themes for each day of this week and one of them is “Save a Life” and “Stop the Bleed” day on Thursday. He says they are trying to get the word out to by-standers about the important role they can play in saving someone’s life by stopping uncontrolled bleeding until EMS personnel arrive on the scene.
Massingham says the Litchfield Rescue Squad responds to lift assists, car accidents and everything in between. Assistant Chief Jess Jensrud, who’s been on the Squad for 27 years, says there are usually a minimum of 4 members who respond to medical calls and at least 6 who will go out to car accidents, and everyone responds for things like storm watching. She says they try to promote 1st aid, CPR and AED classes to get the public educated about life-saving efforts.
Jensrud says your efforts could help prevent someone from dying until first responders arrive and when you call 911, the dispatchers can tell you what to do. She says the Rescue Squad does some type of open house every other year – so that will happen next year, as this year, they are visiting with children at schools and daycare centers.
The Litchfield City Council covered several items of business last night and it was the last item that generated the most discussion. The Council chambers were packed with visitors apparently waiting to see the outcome on a decision regarding the Minnesota flag.
Councilman Bob Powers brought up the issue of keeping the traditional Minnesota flag rather than adopting the new flag. Several Council members said that they would like more public input on the issue before making any decision and when it came up for a vote to keep the old Minnesota flag, it failed on a 4-to-2 vote with Powers and Darlene Kotelnicki voting in favor.
Powers also brought up the issue of amending the parking ordinance – having more specific information regarding winter parking dates and times. No action was taken on the matter as the Council members will gather input from the public over the next couple of weeks.
The Council authorized plans for improvements to the “Campground Road” from Highway 22 to the end of the campground on the southeast side of Lake Ripley and the solicitation of bids for the project. The project is estimated to cost $275,000 and construction will likely occur in August and September.
The Council approved of a quote of $28,934.96 from Matrix NDI of Plymouth for network switch replacements at several city facilities. A request was approved from Hoeg Holdings for two parcels – 201 and 205 North Sibley Avenue to be considered one property for the state façade grant improvement program.
The Litchfield City Council approved of a future land use map amendment and approved the first reading of an ordinance to rezone property to R1 at 905 West 5th Street – the 4Bz Event Center – to make it a single family dwelling. The Council also approved of hiring Jack Jones as a public works equipment operator, contingent on a legal opinion from the City Attorney regarding the hiring procedure.
The ACGC School Board has unanimously selected two finalists to return for a second interview for the school district’s superintendent position. The finalists are Jennifer Mahan-Deitte, a Principal at Hutchinson Public Schools, and Jason Michels, Litchfield High School principal.
The finalists were selected from a pool of applicants based on criteria established by the school board and input provided through the public input survey. Three applicants were interviewed on May 16th. The school board has scheduled interviews for the finalists beginning at 6 p.m. on Thursday, May 21st.
All interviews will be held at the ACGC MS/HS Media Center in Grove City and are open to the public. To ensure a level playing field for all candidates the interviews will not be livestreamed.