Meeting Summary and Briefs: Litchfield City Council for June 4, 2026

Litchfield City Council Meeting | June 4, 2026

The Litchfield City Council devoted much of its June 4 meeting to a package of utility decisions, unanimously approving restructured water and sewer rates, repealing a $5 monthly utility fee and executing a three-year contract with Veolia to operate the city’s water treatment plant — all framed by officials as steps toward funding an estimated $27 million in water and sewer work, including a roughly $23 million sewer plant replacement. (See the standalone stories on the rate increases and the Veolia contract.) The council also approved two police SUVs and their equipment, a $111,672 paving change order on State Street and the city’s annual Motor Fuel Tax allocation, which are covered in separate stories. Remaining action items and recognitions are summarized below.

Surplus Water Plant Equipment Approved for Disposal

The council unanimously approved an ordinance declaring 19 items of water treatment plant equipment surplus and authorizing their sale, trade-in or disposal. The list, prepared May 27, includes obsolete monitors, computer towers with their hard drives removed, printers, a 2002 television with a VHS player, a turbidimeter, a forklift, three dehumidifiers, a typewriter and a backup power supply, among other items. The packet states the equipment is no longer serviceable, is technically obsolete or has been replaced, and that disposal has no impact on the current budget. Under the ordinance, citing 65 ILCS 5/11-76-4, the city administrator or a designee is authorized to sell the items for the highest obtainable value or dispose of them as appropriate.

Jackson Street Change Order Approved

The council unanimously approved a change order of up to $10,456.40 for Rooters Asphalt for work on Jackson Street, paid from capital sales tax funds. According to the packet, crews found two areas of unsuitable soil in the road’s sub-base; the contractor removed the soil and added rock to firm up the roadway before paving. The amount reflects two additional work authorizations — one totaling $5,798.50 and another totaling $4,657.90 — covering labor, equipment and delivered rock.

Stutz Excavating Hired for State Street Sidewalk Patching

The council unanimously accepted a quote not to exceed $24,750 from Stutz Excavating Inc. to patch concrete sidewalk along North State Street, paid from TIF 1 funds. The brick-stamped sidewalk was torn out during the State Street water main project and was not part of the original scope. The proposal covers roughly 377 square feet of standard concrete patching and 383 square feet of stamped concrete patching across the corridor’s patches. The packet notes Stutz could begin in June; Kinney Contractors quoted a lower figure for sidewalk work but could not be on site until about November, and Pfund Construction was unable to find a subcontractor for the stamp work. Officials clarified the work covers decorative and standard concrete, not the corridor’s handicap-accessible ramps.

Council Enters Executive Session

At the close of the open meeting, the council voted to enter executive session, with the city attorney citing three exemptions under the Illinois Open Meetings Act: review of closed-session minutes, the appointment or performance of an employee or public official, and pending litigation. No formal action was reported in open session before the meeting moved to closed session. Under the act, no formal action may be taken in executive session.

Routine Business and Recognitions

The council unanimously approved the minutes of its May 21, 2026, regular meeting and the current expenditure and payroll report. In opening recognitions, Fleming praised the Litchfield Park District for a new concession stand and restrooms near the community center and promoted the district’s “Celebrate Walton Park” event, set for 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, June 6, featuring food trucks, music and a kickball tournament. He noted two alderpersons were absent because of prior commitments.