Local News

The Litchfield City Council has approved of a resolution awarding general obligation bonds in the amount of $10,000,000 which will be used toward the wellness/recreation center and for improvements to the Civic Arena. Piper Sandler & Co. of Minneapolis had the low interest rate bid on the bonds of 3.6881%. Jason Aarsvold of Ehlers presented the bid results to the Litchfield City Council last night.

The Litchfield City Council approved of union contracts last night for law enforcement, public works and public utilities employees, and approved of authorizing a wage comparison for non-contract employees. Due to change of ownership, tobacco license applications were approved for Marathon at 325 South Sibley Avenue and for Speedway at 639 East Highway 12.

The Litchfield City Council approved a number of items related to the $2-million in state bonding money that is to be used for façade improvements in downtown Litchfield. A motion was approved authorizing committee recommendations of the grant agreement and façade contract review. A resolution was approved authorizing New History to begin drafting a request for proposal for architectural services that align with Council expectations on timelines. A resolution was also approved to dissolve a committee consisting of Mayor Ron Dingmann, Council Member Darlene Kotelnicki, and Connie Lies and to follow New History’s timeline. The resolution passed on a 6-to-1 margin with Kotelnicki voting against it.

---

---

Seventy-two donors bundled up and donated life-saving units of blood yesterday in Eden Valley. A total of 73-units were collected. There were 6 deferrals, 1 incomplete, 8 power red donors, and 14 first-time donors Tuesday in Eden Valley.

---

---

The Meeker County Board of Commissioners has approved of the 5 megawatt Ice House solar project for Michael & Christine Buer. It will be located in Section 27 of Swede Grove Township near 300th Street and County-State-Aid-Highway 25 – about 2 miles north of Grove City.

The Board approved of 2025 Administrator goals presented by Andrew Letson; and heard a report from Mary Ellen Wells and Tyler Ulseth from Meeker Memorial Hospital. CEO Wells reported that there have been a lot of case of influenza-A this winter and it seems to be higher in Central Minnesota than in either the southern or northern portions of Minnesota. She says it’s not too late to get a flu shot.

Veterans Service Officer Tim Steinert gave an annual report to the Meeker County Board. He says there are 1,408 veterans in the county who use his services, but there are likely many more who could benefit from the Veterans Service Office. He says they have 2 vans and 8 volunteer drivers who mostly travel to the VA in St. Cloud and 344 veterans were transported in 2024 with 32,315 miles put on the vans.

Steinert says there are plans for a proposed Litchfield based community out-patient clinic and if it receives federal appropriations, the soonest it would be open would be in 2029 or 2030. He went over the many services provided to veterans by his office and the outreach that takes place throughout the county. For more information, call 693-5445.

---

---

---

---

The Litchfield Area Community Foundation is continuing to provide small grants to local non-profit groups for various projects. There used to be a couple of grant cycles each year, but now groups can apply for funds whenever they have a specific project that needs funding.

Board member Joyce Kiehn says the Litchfield Area Community Foundation was formed in 2002 with a permanent endowment of over $100,000 and they use the interest to give out grants each year to local non-profit organizations. She says they have helped several groups with various projects over the years.

Kiehn says donations to the Litchfield Area Community Foundation are welcome any time and they may be dropped off at the Chamber office in downtown Litchfield or look for more details at LACFoundation.org.

Litchfield Area Community Foundation board member Tom Smith says there are 58 non-profit organization registered with the state in the Litchfield area. He says they’ve provided grants to many of them over the years, but there are more that could benefit and he encourages them to apply.

Smith says the Litchfield Area Community Foundation acquired a popcorn stand from the Granite Falls Kiwanis Club and they are gathering funds to refurbish it and hope to have it up and running by late May in Litchfield’s Central Park. He says they are hoping to have local service clubs run the stand to raise further funds for their organizations and if anyone is willing to donate toward the project, they may drop off donations at the Chamber office.

---

---