Litchfield City Council decided this week to end years of lenient enforcement of Lake Ripley Cemetery decoration regulations.

The Council agreed Monday to begin strict enforcement of regulation 5A, which calls for removal of all decorations from the ground around gravesites by June 15. Included in the enforcement are flags; cut, plastic or silk flowers; and other decorations of similar nature.

In government parlance, “special meeting” defines a gathering that is outside the usual schedule of a governing body.

The Litchfield City Council’s meeting May 8 fit the traditional definition, but it might just as well have received the “special” designation for the topic of discussion. After all, it is not often the city has the opportunity to save more than $800,000 over a 20-year period.

“I think this is a moment (for) just a little bit of celebration,” City Administrator Bruce Miller told council members.

The JOBZ applications of two Litchfield manufacturers earned approval from the Litchfield City Council but not before council members debated the merits of the JOBZ program itself.

Limpert Brothers LLC and Northstar Processing received City Council approval — on 5-2 votes — for their applications. Council members Connie Lies and Danielle Rodgers voted against both applications.

A proposed outdoor swimming pool and water park in Litchfield would cost about $2.5 million.

Now, supporters and City Council members just have to figure out if the city can afford it.

Litchfield Swimming Pool Steering Committee members and representatives of USAquatics Inc. presented their Aquatic Facility Feasibility Study to the City Council March 17.

The City Council did not act on the report, instead responding to it with questions — about cost, availability of lifeguards, and whether it should be an indoor or outdoor facility.

Supporters of a municipal swimming pool will make their second appearance before the Litchfield City Council tonight.

The group appeared before the City Council in October asking for the city's financial support in pursuing a feasibility study for a pool. The Council voted 6-0 to foot the $10,000 cost of such a study. Tonight, the study's findings will be on display.

Litchfield Planning Commission will review the city's draft zoning ordinance during its regular meeting at 5:30 p.m. Monday, March 10, at City Hall.

The Planning Commission has been reviewing the zoning ordinance for several months as part of the preparation of the city's Comprehensive Plan. City Council members are expected to attend Monday's meeting to review the work that's been done and offer suggestions to the commission.

A proposal to investigate property values for a fire and rescue hall will be discussed by the Litchfield City Council when it meets at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday.

A report by Ron Dingmann, a past rescue squad chief, suggests the city seek appraisals for properties in the 200 block of North Ramsey Avenue and 100 block of West Second Street. Estimated cost of the appraisals is $4,750.

In a family, what’s mine is often yours. And what’s yours is often mine.

Litchfield trees have had a rough decade.

What can be done about trains that rattle through Litchfield, blasting their whistles to the annoyance of some residents?