Local News

The Pioneerland libraries in Meeker County will be closed on December 24th and December 25th for Christmas, and on January 1st for New Year’s Day. The libraries will close at 5 p.m. on December 31st for New Year’s Eve.

The activities for each of the four libraries in Meeker County is as follows:
Litchfield
Fridays 12/5 and 12/12, 10:15-11:15 am: Storyhour. No storyhour the rest of December.
Tues 12/9, 12 pm: Adult Book Club: Skipping Christmas
Tues 12/9, 6:30-7:30 pm: LEGO Night. For age 14 and under.
Wed 12/10, 10:15-10:45 am: Baby/Toddler Story Time. No storytime the rest of December.
Wed 12/10, 2-2:45 pm: Homeschool Connection. Sign-up required.
Wed 12/10, 6-7:30 pm: Crafter Guild bring-your-own craft program. For adults and teens 16+.
Thurs 12/11, 10:30 am: Diamond art Christmas cards. Sign-up required. For adults and teens.
Sat 12/13, 1:30-3:30 pm: Teen Program: Dungeons & Dragons board games. For ages 11-18.
Tues 12/16, 6:30-7:30 pm: Board games. All ages.
Wed 12/17, 6:30 pm: Mystery Book Club: The Frozen River
Thurs 12/18, 12:30-1:30 pm: Knitting Club. All ages.
Tues 12/30, 2-4 pm: Kids’ Crafting. Drop-in program. For grades K-4.

Dassel
Fridays 12/5, 12/12, and 12/19, 10 am: Story Hour. No Story Hour 12/26.
Sat 12/6, 2 pm: Hand-stitched corded bowls. Sign-up required. For adults and teens age 15+.
Wed 12/10, 3:30 pm at the Dassel History Center: Backyard Photography: A “Cure” for Cabin Fever with Jay Grammond. For all ages.
Thurs 12/11, 4-5:30 pm: Crafternoon. Bring-your-own craft program for adults and teens.
Tues 12/16, 1 pm: Adult Book Club: The Christmas Spirit

Grove City
Thursdays 12/4, 12/11, and 12/18, 3-5 pm: Crafternoon. Bring-your-own craft program for adults.
Tues 12/9, 2 pm: Storytime
Thurs 12/11, 4 pm: Corded bowl class. Sign-up required. For adults and teens age 15+.
Wed 12/17, 4-5 pm: Board games. All ages.
Thurs 12/18, 4-5 pm: Knitting Club. All ages.

Cosmos
Thursdays, 12/4, 12/11, and 12/18, 4-5:30 pm: Pokémon Trading Card Game. For ages 7-18.
Sat 12/6, 10:30 am: Stamped metal bracelets class. Sign-up required. For adults and teens age 15+.
Mon 12/8 through Sat 11/13: Stocking stuffer button-making. Drop in anytime during library hours.
Sat 12/13, 10:30 am-12:30 pm: Craft Circle. Bring-your-own craft program for adults and teens.

The Meeker County Board of Commissioners held the truth-in-taxation hearing on Tuesday evening in the Government Center. The Board will approve the final levy later this month. The property tax levy being considered would be $19,010,390 – an increase of 9.16% from the previous year. The budget that the Board is considering for 2026 is $46,448,540 – an 11.1% decrease from the 2025 budget. Drivers of the property tax levy include new State and Federal requirements, costs related to mental health services, reductions in aid and cost shifts from the State of Minnesota, and personnel costs.

County Administrator Andrew Letson says throughout the budget process, the Commissioners and staff worked diligently to evaluate existing costs and made several difficult decisions to remove priorities and projects to limit the impact of the levy on taxpayers. He says the intent of the 2026 budget is to position the County well for the anticipated new costs of Federal and State policy changes that will further affect the County in 2027 and 2028.

The Meeker County Board of Commissioners approved of a resolution authorizing execution of a local bridge replacement program grant. The Meeker County Public Works Department was successful in acquiring both federal and state bridge funds for the replacement of the County-State-Aid-Highway 34 Bridge over the North Fork of the Crow River.

The State funds require an agreement between MnDOT and Meeker County. The existing Bridge #7230 is a timber beam bridge that was constructed in 1963. Recent inspections of the structure have noted decay of various timber members prompting the department to begin planning for the bridge’s replacement for several years. Recently, the construction contract for the 2026 bridge replacement was awarded to Structural Specialties of Hutchinson. Public Works has acquired a $400,000 federal grant in addition to the $667,711.93 in state funds to assist in paying for the $1.85-million project. Remaining funds will be sourced through Meeker County’s CSAH Construction account.

Public Works Director Phil Schmalz also asked the County Board to approve of a sponsorship resolution for the City of Kingston for their Local Road Improvement Program grant application.

Land Use Records Director Greg Schultz presented a list of 6 water quality projects for Meeker County Lakes for 2026 totaling $31,900 for projects on Lake Jennie, Lake Washington, Lake Minnie Belle, Lake Stella and Belle Lake for approval.

Schultz also presented several items to the Board from the Planning Commission for approval including: a conditional use permit for a landscaping project at 53020 CSAH 20 of Paynesville in Section 4 of Union Grove Township in the Lake Koronis Shoreland District; a one-year extension of a conditional use permit for a 5-megawatt solar farm at CSAH 25 and 300th Street, north of Grove City in Section 27 of Swede Grove Township; an interim use permit for aggregate mining and washing in Section 4 of Forest City Township; and an interim use permit for Josh Plantenberg for a custom exempt butcher shop (Tri-County Meats) at 50609 CSAH 3, north of Grove City in Section 31 of Union Grove Township.