Litchfield Mayor Ron Dingmann will not be running for reelection this fall. Mayor Dingmann made the announcement at the end of Monday evening’s Council meeting.
Mayor Dingmann has served for 18-years on the Council – 14 as Council Member at Large and then 4 years as Mayor, and it’s time for the next generation to guide the City. He says a lot of milestones have been achieved over the past 18 years to make Litchfield a great place to live, work and grow, and he’s grateful to the City staff, Council members and residents for their support over the years.
Mayor Dingmann says it was kind of a bittersweet decision to have to make. He says the Council on Monday evening hired Corrine Grotto for the administrative/accounting technician position; approved of a job description for an IT position and authorized the staff to advertise that position; and appointed Donna Anderson to the HRA board.
Mayor Dingmann says the Council has approved of a low bid for the Ripley Drive project to Hanson Paving of Sauk Rapids for $254,805.59; and received an update about the downtown façade grant program from Jesse Turck of 4594 Design. He says it’s in the construction documents phase and there are 25 buildings in the program.
Mayor Dingmann says construction on the downtown façade projects is likely to get started in August. He says the Litchfield City Council also authorized city staff Monday evening to put a draft agreement together with Brooks Holmgren regarding a lift station at 20 West 9th Street.
The Meeker County Board of Commissioners has approved of a resolution committing Meeker County to funding up to $600,000 in construction costs for a roundabout on the east side of Litchfield. It’s proposed to be built at the intersection of County-State-Aid-Highway 34 and U.S. Highway 12.
The Board has accepted a $10,000 grant with effective dates of July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027 with the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs to help fund the Meeker County Veterans office.
The Commissioners heard a hospital update from Meeker Memorial CEO Mary Ellen Wells who says major construction will get underway at their campus in September and temporary entrances for admission and the emergency room will be set up along with a temporary parking lot. The Board approved of amended by-laws for Meeker Memorial Hospital; and also moved to approve of the appointments of Daniel Kohls and Brent Bengston to the Meeker Memorial Hospital Board for terms ending on December 31, 2028.
The Commissioners approved of a 5-year highway construction plan presented by Public Works Director Phil Schmalz; and also approved of a resolution commemorating the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United State of America.
An explosion and fire destroyed a camper and home on County Road 2 in Forest City Monday afternoon. The Meeker County Sheriff’s Department responded to the fire which was reported at 4:09 p.m. Monday. Litchfield Fire and Rescue and Mayo Ambulance also responded and found a camper on the property fully engulfed in flames, which quickly spread to the residence. It appears the explosion was likely from a propane tank that was consumed by the fire as it spread.
The property owner, 65-year-old Michael Huggett, was not home when the fire broke out but others who were on the property said the fire started in the area of the camper. No one was injured, and both the camper and the residence are considered a total loss. Assisting at the scene were fire departments from Dassel, Eden Valley and Watkins, and the MN State Fire Marshall’s Office. The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Meeker County Sheriff’s Office and Minnesota Fire Marshal’s Office.