LITCHFIELD -- The Litchfield City Council decided to hire a search firm to recruit the city's next administrator.
The city has never used a search firm before, according to Mayor Vern Madson, so it is venturing into new territory. He expects the council to identify firms that can do the work within a month. The decision at the regular meeting Tuesday completely restarts the city's process to hire a new administrator.
The city had conducted its own search for a new city administrator after longtime administrator Bruce Miller retired last fall. Earlier this month, four finalist candidates were selected by the council's personnel committee, but three of the candidates removed themselves from the running last week.
Also Tuesday, the council unanimously approved a zoning change for eight properties owned by Meeker County Memorial Hospital from residential to limited business and set a public hearing for 5:30 p.m. Feb. 5 on the vacation of Ramsey Avenue South between Lockerbie and Pacific streets.
The two zoning changes are in preparation for a three-phase, $33 million expansion and renovation at the hospital. The project includes new construction for inpatient and outpatient services, a new emergency room, radiology department and surgical suites and renovation and reorganization of services in the existing space, according to hospital CEO Mike Schramm.
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The plans are not yet finalized, Schramm said. Detailed medical planning will happen in the next four to six months. He expects construction to begin in the fall.
The rezoned hospital-owned properties, to the north and the west of the existing hospital building, will be used for expanded parking and for the relocation of the hospital's helipad, Schramm said. The expansion will be to the west of the current building.
The current hospital layout is "crammed for space" with patient care on all four levels, he added. The redesign of the space will allow the hospital to better organize its services, including emergency, radiology and surgery together on the first floor, a floor for outpatient services and another floor for inpatient services.
In other business Tuesday:
- The council tabled a mutual aid agreement with the Dassel Fire Department to the next meeting.
- The council approved the Civic Arena nutrition site agreement with Lutheran Social Service to provide senior meals at the arena.
