The Litchfield City Council had a visit last evening from officials of Southern Minnesota Municipal Power Agency (SMMPA) and Great River Energy regarding a future voltage conversion project. A 70-mile power line, supplying electricity to Litchfield, will be upgraded in about the next 5 years.
The aging power line will increase from its current 69KV to 115KV, with 50 miles being rebuilt and 20-miles of new line. Great River Energy’s portion of the project will cost about $82-million, while SMMPA’s share will be about $20-million, with up to $15-million dollars for substation infrastructure. City Administrator Dave Czoik says the costs of the project will affect future electricity rates in Litchfield.
The Litchfield City Council has approved of a request from the Litchfield HRA for a $20,000 deferred loan from the hazardous building fund to help with the purchase of a parcel of property near Meeker Manor that could be used for an affordable housing complex. HRA Director Jenny Klima says Ecumen owns the land and is willing to sell it for $115,000. She says Meeker County approved of a $95,000 loan to the Litchfield HRA toward the project earlier this month.
The Council approved of plans and specifications for the 260th Street/Johnson Drive project on the west side of Walmart and gave City Engineer Chuck DeWolf permission to seek bids for the project. The Council also approved of plans and specifications for the t-hangar project at the airport, and gave DeWolf permission to seek bids for that project.
The Litchfield City Council also approved of an updated landlord agreement with First District Association with CoBank as administrative agent which will help get the pre-treatment project underway; and approved of a variance request for Thomas & Deborah Holtz at 711 Capwood Avenue for a fence extension project at their residence.
An open house is being held later this afternoon in the Meeker County Government Center at 114 North Holcombe Avenue in Litchfield. The public can see the remodeling that took place in the building today from 4:30-to-6:30 p.m.
County Administrator Andrew Letson says the project began in October of 2023 as several of the departments that were housed in the Court House moved over to the building on North Holcombe Avenue – which was originally the Litchfield High School in 1930, then the Litchfield Junior High from 1965-to-1995, and then became an office building for the Litchfield School District and Meeker County. He says the Litchfield School District still uses the Bernie Aaker Auditorium in the building, but the rest is mainly Meeker County offices and they tried to maintain the art deco style of the 1930s.
Letson says the work at the LEC and Court House is continuing as that will be known as the Justice Center and an open house will likely take place there as well after the project is completed later this summer. He says light refreshments will be served during today’s open house at the Meeker County Government Center.
Letson says the Meeker County Commissioiners had a discussion last Tuesday about smoke-free policies, and a public hearing will be held on the issue on May 6th as they are looking to implement this policy in Meeker County parks. He says the Commissioners had a meeting with local legislators last Thursday as the Governor is trying to implement cost shifts onto counties which could make it necessary for the County to double its levy amount over the next couple of years.
Some changes have taken place this year with the United Community Action Partnership office in Litchfield. The office has moved out of the Threads of Hope store to 409 North Sibley Avenue, and a new manager has been hired at the store at 120 North Sibley Avenue – Hannah Laidlaw.
Laidlaw says she grew up in Litchfield and was looking for a career change after teaching. She says she’s been managing the Threads of Hope store for a couple of months now and has made some changes in the store.
Laidlaw says they would appreciate any donations of spring and summer items right now, but if people have winter items, they do have storage space for them too. She says they could also use more volunteers to help at the store and if anyone is willing to be a volunteer, they may call her at 693-8811. The Threads of Hope store is open Mondays through Fridays from 9-to-4 and Saturdays from 9-to-1.
UCAP Community Services Director Heather Jeseritz says you can find great items at great prices at the Threads of Hope store at 120 North Sibley Avenue in Litchfield. She says proceeds from the store help local people in need.
Jeseritz says they help people with rental and energy assistance and things like getting a tank of gas to get to work. She says you can find more information at the Threads of Hope page on Facebook or go to UnitedCAPMN.org.
The American Red Cross was in Dassel on Monday. 53-units of blood were collected from area residents, just short of the 60-unit goal. 4 individuals were recognized for significant milestones: Heather Orton of Cokato for 1 gallon; Catherine Krouth of Litchfield for 6 gallons; Jeremy Cates of Darwin for 12 gallons; and Mary Ackerman of Cokato for 14 gallons.
