The Litchfield City Council approved of annual appointments and committee assignments for 2026 on Monday evening. The annual appointments include Emily Wood and Rebecca Rue in the City Attorney position, Chuck DeWolf from Bolton & Menk as City Engineer, Mario Provencher as Weed Inspector, and the Litchfield Rail as the official newspaper.
Mayor Ron Dingmann says the Council approved of a request for proposal on Monday evening for hiring a construction manager who can oversee the projects related to the state historic building façade grant. He says the Council also approved of purchasing a Vermeer mud duck – with the trade-in of a 2020 model for a total price of $134,132.27. The equipment is like a super-sized shop vacuum that can be used for things like water main breaks.
Mayor Dingmann says the Council approved of some future agenda items, including a report from the Finance Committee regarding squad car usage and the law enforcement lease; and the Golf Course working group report on golf course rates and pro shop operations.
Mayor Dingmann says the Council will have upcoming work sessions including on January 20th to discuss personnel needs, and on January 26th and February 2nd to discuss the façade grant. He says the City of Litchfield is looking for people willing to serve on the Library Board, the Heritage Preservation Commission and the Police Commission and applications are available at City Hall.
The Minnesota Department of Transportation has announced that it has awarded a total of $76.2-million through three competitive grant programs to more than two dozen transportation projects statewide that will improve freight options, travel time reliability and economic development. One of the projects approved is the proposed round-about at the intersection of Highways 12 and 34 in Litchfield.
The funds come from the Minnesota Highway Freight Program (MHFP), the Transportation Economic Development (TED) Program and the Corridors of Commerce Readiness Advancement Program. Collectively these programs help fund and support important transportation projects that aim to improve freight safety, access, mobility, first and last mile connections, railroads and intermodal facilities and more to ensure our state continues to have a safe, sustainable and efficient transportation system.
MnDOT Commissioner Nancy Daubenberger says infrastructure investments in Minnesota help people get where they need to go safely, help businesses grow and make local communities attractive to companies looking to relocate or expand. She says safety is always a guiding principle of their funding decisions, and these transportation projects will help them better serve our state for decades to come.
Grant recipients in Greater Minnesota include a $2.7-million Transportation Economic Development grant for Meeker County for the Highway 12 and Meeker County Road 34 Intersection Improvements Project that will construct a three-legged roundabout and reconfigure access to Highway 12 from East Frontage Road.
The Meeker County Board of Commissioners has set a public hearing for February 17th at 6 p.m. in the Board Room on the 2nd floor of the Government Center to gather input on the so-called “shotgun zone” law. The Board is expected to make a decision before May 1st on deer hunting firearms restrictions.
Back in 1942, the State of Minnesota began restricting the types of firearms that could be used to hunt deer within a part of the state which included Meeker County. During the 2025 legislative session, an act was adopted to repeal in Minnesota those shotgun zone statutes for the 2026 deer hunting season. The act also included statutes which permits a County Board to adopt an ordinance, following a public hearing, to limit the types of firearms used to hunt deer within a county, including restrictions of the same scope and type previously allowed by the former Minnesota Statute.
The County Board has two options to consider, if it desires to limit the use of firearms in the manner that had been in place in the 2025 deer hunting season and earlier. It may adopt an ordinance establishing this restriction. An ordinance should be adopted by May 1, 2026 to have the restriction be included in the MN Department of Natural Resources’ guidebook. If the County Board desires to allow rifles to be used during the 2026 deer hunting season and beyond, no action is necessary.
Beth Oberg will be chairing the Meeker Board of Commissioners in 2026 and Cheryl Van Ort will be the vice chair. The Board approved of authorizing the Public Works Department to set letting dates for 2026 construction projects. Public Works Director Phil Schmalz says the projects will include notch, widen and overlay projects for 1-point-5 miles of County-State-Aid- Highway 20 in the northwest corner of the county – next to Kandiyohi County, along with a 3-point-7 mile portion of Highway 20 on the south side of Lake Koronis; and a 7-point-4 mile portion of County-State-Aid-Highway 14 from Darwin to Highway 24; the bridge replacement on County-State-Aid-Highway 26 – south of Cedar Mills; and asphalt pavement chip seal on portions of County-State-Aid-Highways 3 and 12.
Also during the Meeker County Board of Commissioners meeting (Jan. 6), County Administrator Andrew Letson presented his goals for 2026 which include: 1. Overseeing and leading the implementation of the goals outlined in the County’s strategic plan – Sowing the Seeds of our Future; 2. Developing a fiscally conscience budget that ensures adequate resources for the County’s operations while aiming to minimize the impact to taxpayers and promoting operational efficiency, and seeking savings and efficiencies where possible, ensuring that departments have adequate resources while remaining lean and striving for new methods of meeting the County’s goals; 3. Successfully negotiating updated labor contracts with the eight bargaining groups whose agreements will expire at the end of 2026; 4. Monitoring the progress of the Xcel transmission line project and providing updates to the County Board; and 5. Developing and implementing a comprehensive communication strategy to better inform members of the community about the work of the County. The Board approved of the goals.
