The Litchfield City Council closed Monday night’s meeting as the final item of business – the performance evaluation of the city administrator – was discussed. The summary of the evaluation will be revealed at the October 7th meeting.
Mayor Ron Dingmann says the annual evaluation will be done in August of each year, but this year, it was done in September. He says Monday night’s meeting began with a moment of silence to remember long-time city attorney Mark Wood who passed away earlier this month.
Mayor Dingmann says the Council needs to put an ordinance together by the end of the year regarding cannabis sales. He says a work session will be held after the October 7th meeting to discuss this matter.
Mayor Dingmann says the Council is leaning in the direction of creating its own ordinance rather than being under the umbrella of a county ordinance. He says the Council also received a report Monday night on the progress of the remodeling project on the Library exterior. The stucco work is nearly done, and work will be take place soon on the rubber roof and metal flashing.
The grand reopening of the Current Trends Christian Gift Shop at Bethesda in Willmar is on Friday. The shop is under new management and is sporting a new name.
A special celebration is being held on Friday from 8-to-5 with the passing of a key ceremony and a blessing at 11 a.m. at the gift shop at 901 Willmar Avenue Northeast. Visitors to the shop can see the revitalized space with new items from local vendors, including unique Christian gifts, fresh flowers, homemade cards and more.
There will also be 10% off drinks at the Brother’s Bistro with proof of purchase from the gift shop on Friday. The Current Trends Christian Gift Shop plays an important role, with proceeds going directly to the Resident Life Fund through the Bethesda Foundation – enhancing the lives of the Bethesda residents.
Bethesda Foundation Board member and volunteer Karen Marcus says what started as an idea has grown into something so meaningful for the residents, team members and the community. She says it’s a passion of hers to bring joy and brighten the daily lives of those at Bethesda, and the gift shop is an important part of that. Marcus says the shop is currently raising funds to purchase Christmas gifts for all Bethesda residents across the campus
The Meeker County Board of Commissioners has received an update from Xcel Energy officials about a 180-mile transmission line which will pass through Meeker County on its way from Lyon County to the Sherco plant in Becker. Notices for public hearings will be coming out in early October.
The public hearings will be held later in October and early November and then the recommended route will go to an administrative law judge and the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission for approval by March of 2025. Negotiations with landowners for easements would take place in 2026 and the line would be operational by 2028.
The Meeker County Board has set the preliminary 2025 net levy at $17,415,859 – a 3.5% increase over 2024. The preliminary budget for 2025 is just over $51-million ($51,027,550).
The Meeker County Commissioners have moved to approve of the establishment of a Meeker County Adopt-a-Highway program for Meeker County’s State-Aid-Highway system. Public Works Director Phil Schmalz says businesses, non-profit groups, families and others may adopt 2-mile sections of the county roads for a minimum of two years and there will be more information about how to do so on the Meeker County website.
The Board has approved of a conditional use permit for property at 17887 670th Avenue of Hutchinson for a landscaping project for Rod Engel on Lake Erie in Ellsworth Township; approved of a conditional use permit for property at 22490 County-State-Aid-Highway 14 in Darwin Township at Lake Washington for a landscaping project for John Rogers; and approved of an interim use permit for Gregory & Nickie Jans for a gravel pit operation in Section 19 of Swede Grove Township.
The Commissioners approved of a proposal from Metropolitan Mechanical Contractors of Eden Prairie for the replacement of the Courthouse boiler for $58,090; and approved of Metlife as the County’s accident, critical illness and hospital care carrier for 2025-2028.
