The Litchfield School Board has approved of placing two questions on the November general election ballot. One of them is a 10-year, $415 per pupil operating levy, and the other is a $15.4-million facilities referendum.
Superintendent Susan Burris says the operating levy would help the district maintain current programs, and the facilities referendum would address some immediate needs in the aging buildings. She says there is a web page addressing the questions and the property tax impact at RaisingDragonsBuildingFutures.org.
Burris says the School Board and administration will be getting the information about the ballot questions out to the public in various ways over the next few months. She says it will be back-to-school time before long with fall sports practices beginning August 17th, teachers returning for professional development on August 25th and students returning to classes before Labor Day as it is late this year. Online registration already began on July 20th.
The Meeker County Board of Commissioners had a special meeting Tuesday afternoon – following their monthly workshop which had filled many of the previous hours. During the special meeting, the Board passed a motion to negotiate a contract with DDA Human Resources, Inc. for executive recruitment services.
The Commissioners will be looking for a new County Administrator to replace Andrew Letson. After 5 years with Meeker County, Letson will be leaving on October 16th. He will become the new Stearns County Administrator as of October 26th.
The filing period for city council and school board seats ended Tuesday. Several people have filed for 3 of the Litchfield wards and for mayor.
The incumbents for Wards 1, 3 and 5 and Mayor Ron Dingmann did not file for reelection in Litchfield. Three of the current Council members have filed for mayor – Darlene Kotelnicki, Robert Powers and Malinda Larson. Two candidates have filed for the Ward 5 seat currently held by Powers – Duane Hoeschen and Sara Miller.
Two candidates have filed for Ward 3 – Jake Barnes and Martin Allen. Betty Allen did not file for reelection to that seat. Three candidates have filed in Ward 1 – Holly Flemming, Michael Niedzielski and Michael Flaata. Incumbent Eric Mathwig did not file for reelection in Ward 1.
There are three seats open for the Litchfield School Board and 3 people filed – incumbent Greg Mathews along with Jordan Papke and Felicia Reed. Incumbents Darrin Anderson and Marcia Provencher did not file for reelection.