The Litchfield City Council approved of plans for the sewer separation project on Monday evening and authorized the city engineer to seek bids for the project. Mayor Ron Dingmann says there will be a separate dedicated line for First District Association for transporting its industrial waste for pretreatment to the wastewater treatment plant.
Mayor Dingmann says the Council also authorized a wastewater rate study on Monday evening as the wastewater project will cost around $40-million and rates will need to increase. He says the City is also facing a transmission line upgrade project.
Mayor Dingmann says the Council approved of an agreement on Monday evening with SMMPA and Great River Energy for the transmission line project. He says the Council also approved of a priority list for several community projects and now the administration can move forward on implementing these projects.
Mayor Dingmann says the Council has set a grand opening date for the afternoon of September 7th for the Litchfield Area Recreation Center so that the public can tour the new facility. He says the Council also approved of rental rates for use of the building which will include $120 per hour if it’s rented for more than 6 hours, and $150 per hour for renting it less than 6 hours for events such as basketball tournaments.
A 29-year-old Willmar man and a 28-year-old Ortonville woman are in custody in the Kandiyohi County Jail after leading CEE-VI Drug and Gang Task Force agents on a motor vehicle pursuit on the southwest side of Willmar on Monday morning. During the pursuit, it appeared that the front seat passenger threw a bag out of the window. The bag was recovered by Task Force agents who determined it was methamphetamine. While fleeing, the wanted party turned down a dead end road and came to a stop. Both of them were apprehended by Task Force agents. The man was a wanted fugitive who had an outstanding Minnesota Department of Corrections warrant.
The American Red Cross was in Eden Valley on Monday and 68 donors participated. After factoring in deferrals and double red donations, they ended the day meeting their goal and collecting 64-units of blood.
Governor Tim Walz has issued two writs of special election to fill the vacancies in the State Senate formerly held by the late Senator Bruce Anderson and Senator Nicole Mitchell who resigned. Special elections to fill the vacancies in Districts 29 and 47 will be held on Tuesday, November 4, 2025. If necessary, special primary elections for nomination of candidates will be held on Tuesday, August 26, 2025. Affidavits of candidacy and nominating petitions may be filed with the Secretary of State or the county auditors of Hennepin, Meeker, or Wright Counties (for District 29) or the county auditors of Ramsey and Washington Counties (for District 47) through August 6th.
The Meeker County Board of Commissioners held a public hearing (Tues. morning) to consider approval of a slow-no wake ordinance on designated lakes. The consideration of the ordinance came about because of high water levels this summer on local lakes and the board approved of it.
The affected lakes include Big Swan Lake, Lake Arvilla, Lake Erie, Lake Minnie Belle, Lake Manuella and Star Lake. County Administrator Andrew Letson says there are lakes bordering other counties such as Lake Francis and Lake Koronis in which the ordinance would also take effect if those bordering counties also pass ordinances. The ordinance will be lifted when each lake reaches appropriate levels which will be monitored by the Sheriff’s Office and that information will be posted at public accesses and on the Meeker County website.
County Administrator Letson presented a strategic plan for Meeker County for 2025-27. He says the mission statement is “United to Lead, Driven to Serve” and he outlined four priorities: financial stewardship, assets and amenities, quality economic growth, and organizational excellence. The title for the plan is “Sowing the Seeds of Our Future” and the Board will consider adopting the strategic plan at its next meeting.
In Planning Commission matters, Land Use Records Division Director Greg Schultz presented three items, including a rezoning and preliminary plat for Lundin Hills Addition in Section 3 of Dassel Township; renewal of an interim use permit for aggregate mining and processing for Brad and Alex Bipes in Section 13 of Danielson Township; and a final plat for Ashwill Shores 6th Addition in Section 12 in Collinwood Township. The Commissioners approved of all 3 items.
In the consent agenda, the Meeker County Commissioners approved of a $10,000 grant agreement with the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs for funds to help with Veterans Service Office operations; and approved of a 2026-27 radiological emergency preparedness grant agreement from Xcel Energy for the Monticello Nuclear Power Plant for $3,000 for each of the two years to help with planning in the event of a radiological response. The Board also heard an annual report on child protection, licensing and truancy from Health & Human Services officials.