Three Litchfield businesses are working together on an event which will be held at the Litchfield Airport on August 9th. There will be a fly-in breakfast, car show and business and job expo.
Litchfield Mayor Ron Dingmann says representatives of Farm Bureau, Napa and Miller Automotive spoke to the Council on Monday evening about the event. He says the Council members gave the event their approval, and the administration will work with them on the airport logistics. The Litchfield Lions Club used to host an August fly-in breakfast each summer.
Mayor Dingmann says the Council approved of 3 items from the Historic Preservation Commission including a siding repair project for Trinity Episcopal Church at 3 East 4th Street, the replacement of the staircase behind the Masons’ building 242 North Sibley Avenue, and a signage repair project for Sarah Smith at 113 North Sibley Avenue – the former Cricket Meadow Tea building.
Mayor Dingmann says the Council approved of the purchase of turn-out gear for the Fire Dept. for $120,630 from Heiman Fire Equipment. He says the Council agreed to put the $10-million general obligation bonds in a fund which will earn interest until the money is needed for the Litchfield Area Recreation Center and for the floor project at the Civic Arena.
Mayor Dingmann says the Litchfield City Council will be meeting next on Tuesday, February 18th due to the Presidents Day holiday on February 17th.
Housing of all types continues to be a high need in Meeker County, and some of the larger employers frequently mention the lack of available housing for their employees as a recruitment and retention challenge. The Meeker County Board has moved to set a public hearing during the regular meeting on March 4th regarding a proposed ordinance establishing a local housing trust fund. Economic Development Director Lisa Graphenteen spoke to the Board about the local housing trust fund.
The Board moved to approve the Notice of Public Sale of Tax-Forfeited Lands for a parcel on Geinitz Avenue in Litchfield and set the sale date for March 18, 2025. The minimum sale price is $100,700 and more information is available from the County’s Property Records, Taxation & Elections office.
Meeker County Public Works solicited quotes for the replacement of six centerline culvert crossings on CSAH 3 between Kandiyohi County and Trunk Highway 22. Existing culvert crossings were inspected and it was found that six of the crossings were in poor condition warranting replacement prior to this summer’s pavement replacement project along CSAH 3. The Commissioners moved to award the CSAH 3 Culvert Replacement Quote to Hjerpe Contracting of Hutchinson for an estimated cost of $48,234.54
The County Board moved to approve a rezoning application for Joel & Liana L’Esperance of Delano to change 12.26 acres of a parcel in Section 24 of Dassel Township from A-1 to R-2 on a 3-to-2 vote with Commissioners Steve Schmitt and Cheryl Van Ort voting against it. A three-lot plat was submitted for this property in September of 2024 and failed the Planning Commission by a vote of 3 to 4 at that time. The latest version of the plat is a different configuration from what was presented in September. A preliminary plat for this property was approved by the Meeker County Board on a 4-to-1 vote, with Steve Schmitt opposed.
On Monday morning at 11:26, the Stearns County Emergency Communications Center received a call of a tractor on fire at the address of 16558 Lakewood Road in Eden Lake Township. The tractor was parked inside of a 30×54 foot canvas-style hoop shed. The owner, 59-year-old Rodney Salzl of Eden Valley, had plugged the tractor in the previous evening. 27-year-old John Salzl of Eden Valley arrived at the farm and noticed flames coming from the side of the enclosed cab Ford tractor. The fire damaged two other tractors parked nearby. The canvas covering of the shed was also damaged by the fire. No one was injured in the fire. Eden Valley Fire and Watkins Fire responded to the scene.
The Litchfield Kiwanis Club will have an open house on Friday from 4-to-6 p.m. at the Captain’s Club in downtown Litchfield – right next to Mimi’s. Appetizers and wine will be served.
Ian McGuire says it’s just a way for people to learn more about the Litchfield Kiwanis Club, learn what the club does, and find out more about the projects that it supports. He says they are working right now on playground communication boards.
McGuire says the communication boards would be located at the Wagner and Lake Ripley Elementary playgrounds. He says they need to raise $2,000 for the project and they have just a few hundred more dollars to go, so if anyone would like to donate toward the project, donations are welcome.
Leland Fredman says the Litchfield Kiwanis Club supports a lot of projects that help children including scholarships and the LAMP Turkey Bingo each November. He says they are involved in a project called “Who Gets the Job” to help 8th graders learn about interview skills.
Fredman says the program is a good way for local employers to help students understand that there are job opportunities right in Litchfield after they graduate from high school, trade school or college. He says the Kiwanis Club has the Kans for Kids trailers where people may donate their aluminum cans which help support youth programs in the community.