The Litchfield City Council had a lengthy meeting Monday evening with approval of the levy and budgets for 2025 and several other items of business. The total certified levy was $3,791,900.
Mayor Ron Dingmann says the levy will increase 8.9% which is down from the preliminary levy from last September of 12.1%. He says the Council also approved of a financing conduit for the First District Association wastewater pretreatment project which will enable FDA to get a better interest rate on their loan for the project.
Mayor Dingmann says FDA will pay for any related expenses with the conduit financing arrangement so it creates no additional costs or risk for the City. He says the Council also authorized the sale of $10-million in general obligation bonds with $8-million for the Litchfield Area Recreation Center (LARC) and $2-million for the Civic Arena floor and dasher boards.
Mayor Dingmann says this is the first step in order to start collecting the $6-million in State bonding money for LARC, and the City will recoup the $8-million from sales tax proceeds and from the Crider money and other donations. He says officials from Ehlers will be at the January 21st meeting with results from the bond sale.
The Meeker County Board of Commissioners has approved of law enforcement contracts with the Cities of Cosmos, Grove City and Watkins for 2025 and 2026. The Board also approved of the 2024 audit statement of work from Clifton Larson Allen.
IT Director Rob Oster presented quotes for the Commissioners regarding replacement of the devices that the 5 Commissioners use, and they approved of purchasing new laptops. The Commissioners approved of a 3% increase in their salaries for 2025 with Board Chair Danny Schiefelbein voting against the increase. After a 0% increase last year and annual salaries of $27,568, the commissioners will each receive $28,394.77 in 2025. The Board also approved of a resolution related to personnel adjustments included in the 2025 annual budget which includes a 3% cost of living adjustment for non-contract employees.
The Board ratified the 2025-2026 LELS license sergeant contract; ratified the 2025-2026 MNPEA Health & Human Services contract; ratified the 2025-2026 MNPEA Licensed contract; ratified the 2025-2026 MNPEA non-essential Criminal Justice Support Staff contract.
The Commissioners approved of the County Attorney’s salary of $153,589.74 for 2025 and $163,573.08 for 2026 and the County Sheriff’s salary of $144,946.05 for 2025 and $154,367.55 for 2026. The Meeker County Board also certified the 2025 ditch levy assessment request of $285,711.38.
Christmas at Trinity Lutheran Church in Grove City is coming up this Saturday from 9-to-noon. The annual event includes a brunch, bake sale and much more.
Janelle Johnson says Christmas at Trinity has been held for about 35 years and the brunch this year is $13; $6 for children 10 and under; you can get just a roll and coffee for $4; and take-outs are available. She says there was a cookie walk for many years, but now the fancy cookies are sold on special plates.
Johnson says they also have other baked goods, candies, ethnic goodies like lefse, krumkake and rosettes, cards, crafts, quilts and more. She says you pay for all of your items when you exit the church, and if you’d like to eat brunch after you’ve been shopping, there is an area where they can store your items before you head out to the parking lot.
The Litchfield City Council held the public hearing last night on the proposed 2025 property tax levy and budgets. No one from the public spoke during the hearing, and the Council certified a total levy of $3,791,900. It’s an increase of 8.9% from last year, but down from the 12.1% that was originally considered back in September.
The Council awarded bid package #3 last night for the Litchfield Area Recreation Center (LARC) which included $3,172,000 for Kraft mechanical LLC for mechanical work and $1,580,000 for Falk Drilling, Inc. for the geothermal component of the project.
The Council approved of extending the Golf Clubhouse lease with Parlil Holdings to May 15th of 2025; approved of a developer’s agreement with Gregg Schilling Construction for a lot on Gorman Avenue; and set a public hearing to consider the sale of that property for January 6th.
The Litchfield City Council authorized the sale of $10-million in general obligation bonds – including $2-million for the Civic Arena for the floor and dasher boards, and $8-million for the LARC project which will be recouped with sales tax proceeds and state bonding money. The Council also approved of the issuance of municipal industrial development revenue bonds for the First District Association (FDA) wastewater pretreatment project. The action will help FDA get a better interest rate and will involve no risk or cost to the City.