Litchfield City Council Meeting
The Litchfield City Council covered numerous items last night while working through its agenda and the housing issue surfaced a couple of times. The Council approved of a housing and comp plan proposal from WSB for $21,398.
The Council was also approached again by developer Dave Tysk who would like to use tax increment financing for a housing development and wondered why the City has just been sitting on his application. After a great deal of discussion, the Council approved of a resolution authorizing up to $8,000 in an escrow payment from Tysk for Ehlers to study the TIF application and move the matter toward a public hearing.
Meeker County Emergency Management Director Stephanie Johnson spoke to the Council last night about a hazard mitigation plan. She says an updated plan is required every 5 years, mainly to outline the steps to take to lessen the loss of life and property in the event of a natural disaster.
State Representative Dean Urdahl presented a review of the 2023 Legislative Session. He says the capital investment bill includes $5-million for First District Association’s wastewater pretreatment project; $2-million for façade improvements in Litchfield’s historic downtown district; and an additional $1-million for the Litchfield Area Recreation Center (LARC).
On the LARC topic, Pat Overom from ICS presented an update and says the City’s funding for the project is coming together. He says City and School officials will continue to work together on the project and the next step will be the approval of a joint powers agreement – probably in July.
The Council approved of certificates of appropriateness last night for a repointing project on the south and west facades of DeAnn’s Country Village Shoppe at 115 North Sibley Avenue; and for concrete replacement and a rear door replacement at the Natural Food Co-op at 230 North Sibley Avenue.
Also last night, the Litchfield City Council approved of an airport maintenance and operation grant agreement; had some discussion about what to expect when recreational marijuana becomes legal; and had some discussion about a possible food truck ordinance, and will gauge public interest in having portable food vendors operating in Litchfield.