Litchfield City Council approved a pair of building improvements at its Oct. 16 meeting.
First District Association received the go-ahead to begin replacing an existing building on Swift Avenue with a new, smaller building that would have additional raw milk processing capacity and greater efficiency.
After hearing from neighbors and other concerned citizens, the Litchfield Planning Commission added nine conditions before recommending approval of the conditional-use permit. The conditions, as accepted and amended slightly by the City Council, include addressing drainage, wastewater treatment and access issues, requiring most additional truck traffic to use Sibley Avenue instead of Swift Avenue, infrastructure restoration and planting of 22 trees.
The Airport Advisory Board recommended making improvements to the Airport terminal building, including replacing steel siding, roof and several windows and doors. Most of the $168,000 cost will be covered with federal funds sent to the city annually for airport maintenance. A smaller percentage would be picked up by the state, with the city’s airport fund responsible for only 5% of the cost, about $8,500.
The council directed staff to begin the pre-application process for the improvements. The council also discussed a possible future fuel system upgrade.
Council member Eric Mathwig, who also serves on the advisory board, noting that the 2022 board re-configuration was functioning well.
In another infrastructure decision, the council decided to renovate 31 street light poles along East Highway 12. The estimated cost of $100,000 is available in the city’s electric fund. The council will purchase 14 extra poles to have on hand for potential future replacements.
Among other business, the council:
- Discussed continuing to meet with consultants in applying for Department of Employment and Economic Development grants for downtown building improvements. The city will also look into the potential for a nonprofit association grant.
- Discussed developing an ordinance for conducting rental property inspections. Although city officials expressed concerns about how the inspections would be financed and conducted, all agreed that it was time to look at ways to bring a few negligent landlords into compliance with basic health and safety maintenance. The council director Administrator David Cziok to visit with Glencoe officials and landlords about how a 10-year-old rental inspections ordinance is working in that city.
