The Dakota County Board of Commissioners takes its role as a steward of county tax dollars seriously. The board is committed to providing essential and valued services in efficient, effective and innovative ways. We've done that by delivering programs that serve the community and earn national recognition while keeping taxes low. In this issue of the newsletter, learn more about the role of county government and the many ways we serve residents and taxpayers.
Feature: Page 26
SERVING YOU
Dakota County works to keep the public safe, protect vulnerable residents, ensure a healthy environment and provide a good quality of life. Learn more about the many ways county government works for you.
Page 3 IN BRIEF
We’re creating a new space to help people who need mental health services. Learn about plans for the Crisis and Recovery Center.
Page 8 OUR WORK
Dakota County is making smart energy decisions. See how we plan to generate more electricity than we use.
DEPARTMENTS
Page 11
COMMUNITY
Dakota County Library’s iLAB Creative Spaces offer tools to create and collaborate. Find out what iLABs can offer you.
Page 15 PARKS
New outdoor learning spaces and expanded greenways can enhance your experience in Dakota County Parks.
Sending you county news for 55 cents
Page 23 GO GREEN
Recycling works in Dakota County. Check out how proper curbside recycling reduces landfill use and creates new products.
The Dakota County Newsletter is a cost-effective way to share county news and show how your tax dollars are used. We keep the newsletter cost down by producing it twice a year and combining it with the Dakota County Parks program guide. County staff write and design the newsletter. Printing is awarded through a competitive bid process. The cost to produce and mail this newsletter is just 55 cents per household.
Contact:
Mary Beth Schubert, Communications Director, marybeth.schubert@co.dakota.mn.us or call 651-438-8179
A space for care and recovery
New center to serve those in crisis
People experiencing a mental health crisis will soon have a welcoming, supportive space for help in West St. Paul.
In Brief
In early 2025, Dakota County and Guild will open the Crisis and Recovery Center, located next to the Northern Service Center.
The facility will be a resource for adults in need of mental health services. Dakota County will own the building and Guild — a mental health service provider — will operate the center’s residential services. Dakota County’s crisis services team will provide mental health crisis assessment.
The goal is for people experiencing different stages of mental health crises to receive the services they need before transitioning back home. The center will include:
• Crisis residential services: Adults experiencing a mental health crisis will receive care and support for up to 10 days. Once stabilized, people return to their families and communities.
• Intensive residential treatment services: Often serving as a transition from or alternative to care in a hospital, this service provides up to 90 days of treatment. Adults receive focused treatment interventions in a structured, supportive environment where they build independent-living skills and focus on recovery.
• A place to go: Dakota County’s crisis services team will provide mental health crisis assessment and connections to resources and recovery support in the community.
We know that people thrive in the community of their choice when they have services and support. Yet those in crisis often must travel many miles
from their home due to a lack of nearby care options. The Crisis and Recovery Center, located in northern Dakota County with access to transit and essential needs and services, provides a crucial resource for the area.
Experienced provider
Guild, a nonprofit organization, has more than 30 years of experience delivering high-quality services that include long-term supportive housing, residential crisis facilities, case management and health care coordination, and supportive employment. Guild serves nearly 2,200 people annually in the Twin Cities area.
At the Crisis and Recovery Center, Guild will help people from varied backgrounds and experience get the mental health help they need. One in 5 people will experience a mental illness each year. Mental illness impacts people of all backgrounds.
Guild isn’t a newcomer to the Dakota County mental health scene. The organization has operated similar residential treatment services in South St. Paul since 1983. These services will move to the Crisis and Recovery Center. In 2020, Guild partnered with Scott County to open a similar facility in Savage.
In Brief
The building includes trauma-informed design, a concept that refers to principles that create a calm, welcoming and safe environment that promotes healing.
A calm environment
The 15,000-square-foot center will include 16 bedrooms with adjoining bathrooms, along with office space, laundry facilities, two kitchens, a shared living room, therapeutic and meditation rooms, and more.
The building includes traumainformed design, a concept that refers to principles that create a calm, welcoming and safe environment that promotes healing.
This includes creating clear sightlines so people feel safe or providing clear wayfinding to easily navigate the inside of the building. Outdoor space and landscape design are important considerations as well.
For more information, visit www.dakotacounty.us, search crisis and recovery.
Secure and transparent elections
Dakota County is committed to overseeing secure, transparent and accurate elections. We’re working to make sure your vote gets counted in this fall’s election.
Absentee voting will begin Sept. 20 for the Nov. 5 general election.
How to vote
Registered voters can cast their ballot one of three ways — with an absentee ballot, by early voting or in person on Election Day. You may vote absentee by requesting a ballot, completing it according to the enclosed instructions and returning it in the envelopes provided. We make sure that every properly cast absentee ballot gets counted.
Through an agreement with nearly all our cities and townships, we process most absentee ballots cast in the county. Political party-balanced absentee ballot boards made up of your neighbors and fellow county residents help oversee the public process.
Early voting for the general election is available Oct. 18–Nov. 4. You can cast your ballot and insert it directly into a ballot counter at the Dakota County Administration Center, Northern Service Center or Western Service Center, or at most city halls.
Your third option is to vote at your precinct polling place on Election Day. Voting hours are 7 a.m.–8 p.m. Find your polling place or apply for an absentee ballot at MNvotes.org.
You can also register to vote and check your registration status at MNvotes.org.
Protecting election data and ballots
The county protects elections data and ballots. The computer server storing election data is physically and electronically separate from the county’s network and internet. A very limited number of staff have access to the election server, and remote access is not possible.
All election equipment is tested. Public accuracy tests ensure that equipment, including ballot counters, will accurately record votes. The tests are open to observers.
Ballots are also protected. Cast ballots are stored in a vault with secure entry points monitored by video cameras. Teams of two election judges always handle voted ballots.
These are just some of the steps we take to ensure a secure, accurate election.
Scan this QR code to learn more:
Get involved
You can participate in the election process. To apply to be an election judge on Election Day, contact your city or township office.
In Brief
Plan on it
Know what to do this fall and winter
Monthly Fix-It Clinics
Get free help fixing everything from sweaters to lamps at Fix-It Clinics. Items accepted until 30 minutes before close. www.dakotacounty.us, search fix-it clinic.
• Sept. 18, 3–6 p.m., Kaposia Library, South St. Paul
• Oct. 19, 10 a.m.–1 p.m., Wescott Library, Eagan
• Nov. 16, 10 a.m.–1 p.m., Pleasant Hill Library, Hastings
Document shredding
Safely dispose of sensitive documents you no longer need at free, city papershredding events:
• Sept. 7, 9 a.m.–noon, Eagan Cascade Bay Waterpark, 1360 Civic Center Drive. Open to Apple Valley, Burnsville, Eagan and Lakeville residents.
• Sept. 7, 9 a.m.–noon, Cal Ruedy Public Works Facility, 1225 Progress Drive, Hastings
• Sept. 14, 10 a.m.–1 p.m., Wakota Credit Union, 1151 Southview Blvd., South St. Paul
• Sept. 21, 8 a.m.–1 p.m., Apple Valley Aquatic Center, 14421 Johnny Cake Ridge Road. Open to Apple Valley, Burnsville, Eagan and Lakeville residents.
• Sept. 21, 8 a.m.–noon, 8150 Barbara Ave., Inver Grove Heights. Open to Inver Grove Heights residents.
• Sept. 28, 9 a.m.–2 p.m., Burnsville Maintenance Facility, 13713 Frontier Court. Open to Apple Valley, Burnsville, Eagan and Lakeville residents.
DATE
• Oct. 5, 8 a.m.–noon, Central Park, 2893 145th Street W., Rosemount. Open to Rosemount residents.
• Oct. 19, 9 a.m.–noon, Lakeville Maintenance Facility, 7570 179th St. Open to Apple Valley, Burnsville, Eagan and Lakeville residents. For more information, visit www.dakotacounty.us and search Recycling Guide.
October
Wild Ride
POSTPONED
Celebrate mountain biking with the return of the Wild Ride Mountain Bike Festival Saturday, Oct. 5 from 10 a.m.–4 p.m. at Lebanon Hills Regional Park West Trailhead, Eagan. The family friendly event recognizes Minnesota Off-Road Cyclists for their volunteer trail work and maintenance and includes bikes to try, skills sessions, fix-it clinics, bike games, kids’ activities, and food and beer.
November
Opt Outside
Enjoy the outdoors on Black Friday, Nov. 29, with the free family event at Thompson County Park in West St. Paul. Start at Dakota Lodge to get event information and take-along guides on the activity trail. All event materials, including medallion hunt clues, will be available in English and Spanish.
December
New Year’s Eve Party
Ring in the new year with candlelight ice skating, walking, hiking and snowshoeing Dec. 31 at Lebanon Hills Regional Park. Stay for the family friendly New Year’s ball drop at 7:59 p.m. Tickets on sale Dec. 1. www.dakotacounty.us/parks, search new year.
Adult
Brewing Science and Beer in Minnesota
Brewing expert and college instructor Andrew Burns shares the science of brewing, tips for home brewing and the history of Minnesota beers on Monday, Oct. 7 from 6–7:30 p.m. at Inver Glen Library.
Book Bingo for Adults
Play bingo for a chance to win books. Registration required.
Join us for a program that inspires adults to read a good book or relax with an exciting audiobook. Enjoy the simple pleasure of wintertime reading and attend virtual library programs. Rate and submit reviews of the books you read and be eligible to win a prize. Participate at all library locations and online in January and February 2025.
Youth
Drop-in Teen Game Day
Liven up your Monday with video and board games. Challenge your friends to Mario Kart or Smash Bros. Work together to solve puzzle games and build creations in Minecraft or Animal Crossing. Geared for youth ages 12–18.
• Pleasant Hill Library, Hastings Mondays, Sept. 16, Oct. 14 and Nov. 18, 2:30–4:30 p.m.
Dropcloth Painting
Drop in and let your creative imagination soar by painting on a large canvas drop cloth. Contribute to a fun, collaborative art piece to be displayed in the library. Presented by artist Z Akhmetova. All ages.
Bengali Storytime: Connecting Culture Through Stories
Join community member Rima as she shares children’s stories celebrating Indian culture. This event will be presented in Bengali and English. Geared for youth ages 3 and older with their caregivers. Siblings welcome.
Observe how sound is made and measured. Use your senses of sight, touch and hearing to observe familiar and unusual objects making sounds. Presented by the Science Museum of Minnesota. Geared for youth ages 6–8.
• Farmington Library
Friday, Nov. 15, 2:15–3 p.m.
Lounging with Lizards
Meet exotic lizards from around the world up-close during this hands-on event. Learn what makes them unique and try holding them. Presented by Snake Discovery. Geared for youth ages 5 and older.
You have enough in your life to worry about. You shouldn’t have to worry about fraudulent activity with your properties. Dakota County’s Property Watch gives you peace of mind that one of your largest assets is being monitored.
When you subscribe to the Property Watch service, Dakota County will send you an email alert whenever a document is recorded against the information you provide at signup. You’ll immediately know if something suspicious is happening and can take the proper action.
Signing up for the free service is easy. Go to www.dakotacounty.us, search Property Watch. You can subscribe by entering a name or a property's legal description, along with an email address.
When subscribing, common names like “John Smith" could produce many results. The more data provided at signup, the narrower the results will be. A step-by-step user guide is available on the site to help you through the process, so you get the most from the service.
You and the county are concerned about keeping your information safe. Property Watch is one way the county is using technology to do that.
Residents are taking advantage of the service. In the first two months of availability, more than 600 residents subscribed to Property Watch.
Powering up
County to generate more energy than it uses after Byllesby Dam upgrade and energy efficiency projects 10 COUNTY SERVICES RECOGNIZED
Dakota County is using water and sunlight to generate more electricity and save taxpayer dollars.
The county finished a $46-million expansion of Byllesby Dam, a 115-yearold hydroelectric dam on the Cannon River near Lake Byllesby Regional Park. This fall, we will also complete new solar power projects and other energy upgrades.
These improvements are good for county energy use and production. By doubling the electricity generated at the dam and going solar at more buildings, we anticipate generating more than twice as much electricity than we use.
The county’s energy production will be from renewable sources — more than any other county produces in Minnesota.
Byllesby upgrades
The dam is responsible for a majority of the county’s renewable energy, but it didn’t always generate this much.
The dam and powerhouse, which contains turbines and generators that convert water flow to electricity, were built in 1909. Original turbines produced 2.2 megawatts of electricity a year. That’s enough to power a city the size of Cannon Falls.
After a century in operation, the equipment was well past its prime. The county worked with state and federal partners to secure funding to boost the dam’s efficiency for years to come. A new powerhouse was built to modern efficiency and safety standards. It contains two vertical turbines, generators, controls and workspace for county employees who monitor the dam.
The new turbines will produce an estimated 4.4 megawatts of electricity — double the original equipment. That power will be transferred to a
regional power grid. The county will sell that electricity on the open market by negotiating with utility providers buying renewable energy.
Revenue from energy sales will be used to pay back the county’s $9 million cost to upgrade the dam and cover ongoing operation costs. No property tax dollars were used for the dam upgrade. County funds in the project were from environmental fees collected at landfills in the county.
Solar enhancements
Solar energy is also helping to generate renewable electricity. We’re installing ground-level solar panels outside the Administration Center in Hastings. This will offset all the electricity used in that building.
We’re adding solar panel carports in three parking lots. The panels are at least 12 feet above the ground, allowing vehicles to safely park beneath them.
Solar carport projects include:
• Robert Trail Library and Rosemount License Center. Nearly all building electricity use will be offset by the solar installation.
• Northern Service Center in West St. Paul. Solar energy will offset nearly 10 percent of this large building’s electricity use.
• Western Service Center and Galaxie Library in Apple Valley. The solar carport will generate the equivalent of 60 percent of Galaxie Library’s electricity use.
The county already generates solar energy elsewhere. Energy from rooftop solar panels at Empire Maintenance Facility offsets about two-thirds of the electricity used there.
We’re reducing our energy use as well. We’re replacing 14,000 light fixtures in 18 county buildings with LED bulbs. That will reduce overall electricity consumption by 10 percent. Also, we're making heating and cooling modifications at the Northern and Western service centers to reduce energy costs.
These energy projects cost about $8.4 million. We’re using $7.6 million in federal American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds and another $500,000 in state funds. The remaining $300,000 is property tax funds, but we will reduce ongoing energy expenses by more than that each year. That will save taxpayer dollars in the long run.
Byllesby Dam funding
Federal ARP funds ............... $26 million State bonds ..............................$12 million Non-levy county funds.......... $9 million Total cost ......................... $47 million Energy efficiency upgrades
Federal ARP funds .............. $7.6 million
........................ $8.4 million
Byllesby Dam Solar Carport
Our Work
County services earn national recognition
Dakota County works hard
to provide quality programs to residents, and those services get noticed.
The county has been recognized more than 30 times by the National Association of Counties over the past decade. This year, we received seven national achievement awards. These services help residents in crisis and make the county a better and healthier place:
Career Fairs
Our CareerForce connects residents with job opportunities through inperson, virtual and hybrid career fairs, workshops and hiring events. You can find more information on these events by visiting www.dakotacounty.us, search careerforce
Eviction Court Housing Clinic
In recent years, Dakota County staff saw more people in need of emergency shelter after a recent eviction. In some cases, the eviction could have been avoided if the tenant had accessed financial or other resources available to them. Our housing clinic staff worked with tenants facing eviction to address the cause and provide social and financial services they qualified for to avoid homelessness and trauma for their families. We found eviction alternatives in 87 percent of cases we handled between July 2022 and December 2023.
Kaposia Library
Building Kaposia Library in South St. Paul, which opened in February 2024, was a partnership of the county and the city. Kaposia is the 10th location in the Dakota County Library system. We’re offering residents modern library services and community meeting spaces.
Mental Health Crisis Continuum
Dakota County has teamed up with nearly all cities and local police departments in the county to better address the growing demand for mental health support in emergency or crisis situations. In 2023, the Crisis Response Unit handled nearly 1,000 911 calls. Of those calls, 83 percent were resolved without the need for police involvement. This award-winning model gets people the help they need, saves taxpayer dollars and reduces the burden on first responders.
Program and Service Inventory
We use data to help the Dakota County Board make informed decisions about programs and how to carefully spend taxpayer dollars. Our Program and Service Inventory collects performance data every year on each of the county’s 224 programs and services.
Mothers and Babies Program
The county’s Mothers and Babies program provides pregnant women and new mothers with mental health support and has shown to reduce depression symptoms and improve mental health. We serve a diverse community, including non-English speakers and people with low literacy. Learn more about this program and other services we offer to families at www.dakotacounty.us, search family home visits.
Thompson Oaks
A healthy environment requires partnerships, and last year we worked with the City of West St. Paul to restore Thompson Oaks wetland. We converted a former public golf course into a regional stormwater treatment system and restored a wetland to protect groundwater. This effort helped prevent nearly 100 tons of sediment and pollutants from entering the Mississippi River. You can see the improvement by visiting the new trails and boardwalk along the River to River Greenway.
Getting creative
iLAB Creative Spaces give you access to technology and tools
Dakota County Library customers can explore their creative side at all 10 library locations.
Community
We’ve expanded iLAB Creative Spaces, giving you more opportunity to work on creative projects and to share ideas and collaborate with others in your community.
iLABs offer technology and craft tools to help residents of all ages and interests. iLABs provide technology and equipment that some residents may not have access to due to availability, high costs or other factors.
Using the iLAB
Whether it’s digitizing old family photos, making a dress, creating a 3D object or trying new technology for the first time, the library’s iLAB Creative Spaces offer residents a convenient place to explore, create and learn.
Dakota County residents can make all kinds of projects in an iLAB anytime they want during regular library hours for free. We offer classes and online tutorials to help you get familiar with the equipment as well as one-on-one appointments with staff or volunteers. You can reserve equipment through the library’s online reservation system for up to four hours at a time. There were more than 6,300 iLAB equipment reservations in 2023.
Creating memories, making connections
Beyond the opportunity for individuals and groups to explore their creativity, iLABs give users opportunities to make meaningful connections and memories.
A pair of friends began meeting and using the sewing machine at
the Heritage Library iLAB space in Lakeville a couple years ago to make bags and other items together. The space, which they typically visit at least once a week, not only provided a place to make creative projects, but also to catch up with one another socially.
Using the iLAB as frequently as they did, one of the friends also took advantage of a scanner to digitize old family photos.
iLAB users at other locations reflect the usefulness of having a dedicated space to collaborate, share and create their own projects.
Wanting to make all her late husband’s photo slides accessible to future generations, a resident visited the Wescott Library iLAB to scan and digitize the images he captured during his years as a photographer.
An electronic paper-cutting machine that connects to a computer was used by a resident who worked in a birthing center at a hospital to cut stickers to label bottles.
A girl scout worked alongside a volunteer sewing mentor to create a fidget lap quilt to donate the VA Hospital.
These are just a few of the many ways residents use iLAB Creative Spaces. They’re the perfect place for you to learn about new technology and work on a wide range of projects in a collaborative and accessible space.
For more information, visit www.dakotacounty.us/library, search iLAB. Scan the QR code to watch a short video about iLABs:
Equipment and locations
• 3D printing – All locations
• 8mm to digital conversion – Heritage, Pleasant Hill, Wescott
• Audio production – Wescott
• Creative design (Adobe Creative Suite) PC – Wescott
• Creative design (Adobe Creative Suite) Mac – All locations
• Fabric cutter – Heritage, Wescott
• Paper cutter (Silhouette Cameo)
– Galaxie, Heritage, Inver Glen, Kaposia, Pleasant Hill, Wescott
• Photo, slide, negative conversion
– Galaxie, Heritage, Pleasant Hill, Wescott
• Serger – Heritage, Pleasant Hill
• Sewing machines – Farmington, Galaxie, Heritage, Pleasant Hill, Wescott
• Typewriter – Pleasant Hill
• VHS to digital conversion
– Galaxie, Heritage, Kaposia, Pleasant Hill, Wescott
• Video production – Wescott
Serving our veterans
Treatment court helps vets get back on track
Dakota County is working to serve those who served all of us.
The county and its partners have expanded a program to help veterans who have substance use or mental health disorders and are facing legal problems.
Dakota County partnered with Carver County in 2021 to create the Carver Dakota Veterans Treatment Court. This year, it has expanded and become the First Judicial District Veterans Treatment Court, which covers all seven counties in Minnesota’s First Judicial District — Dakota, Carver, Goodhue, Le Sueur, McLeod, Scott and Sibley.
The treatment court helps veterans involved in the court system reintegrate into society by providing support and fresh start opportunities. County probation officers provide case management, helping to line up services such as mental health treatment, housing, employment skills training and more. These services are provided through the federal Veterans Administration or community-based programs.
Each veteran’s progress in the treatment court is tracked by the state court system. Participants remain in the program for at least a year and usually around 13 months. There are five phases to complete to graduate from the program. After graduation, veterans might need to continue to check in with a treatment court probation officer regularly.
An east side court currently serves Dakota County with hearings at the Western Service Center in Apple Valley. A west side court serves Carver and Scott counties in Shakopee. Each court
can support up to 25 veterans. Both courts will eventually accept referrals from the other four counties that have joined the program.
To participate, veterans must be charged with a misdemeanor, gross misdemeanor or felony or face a probation violation. They also must:
• Be a resident of any county within the district and be at least 18 years old.
• Be a current or former member of the U.S. military that was honorably discharged.
• Be assessed as high risk and high need, with moderate to severe substance use or mental health disorders.
• Have their pending cases or probation violations approved by a prosecutor.
Since November 2021, 30 veterans have entered the program and 14 graduated. There are 26 active participants.
It’s helpful to have somebody in your corner, so the veterans treatment court assigns each participant a peer mentor volunteer. These mentors are veterans themselves, and they play a crucial role in helping the participants get back on the right track. They do so through their personal connections of shared military experience.
Dakota County Veteran Services is currently recruiting veterans to become peer mentors.
Veterans interested in becoming mentors can learn more and apply at www.dakotacounty.us, search volunteer, or contact the peer mentor coordinator at vets@co.dakota.mn.us.
Providing a home to learn and grow
Foster parents can be the difference in a young life
Teenagers, brothers and sisters, and other children throughout Dakota County need a safe and supportive home where they can learn and grow. You could be the difference in their lives.
There is a great need in Dakota County for more foster homes for children. Currently, there are about 200 children living in foster care, but the number of those without a home is growing.
Individuals, couples and parents alike can become foster parents and help provide a safe and loving home. Children awaiting foster homes have diverse backgrounds and family history, and we’re looking for residents to meet these children’s cultural needs.
We know providing a foster home is a big decision. We’ll be with you from the start, answering your questions and guiding you through the process. That includes informational meetings and extensive training, so foster parents feel comfortable and ready for the children in their care. It takes about 3–6 months, but the satisfaction of being able to offer a child a safe, loving home makes it well worth it.
Traditional foster care involves families from the community opening their home to children who are experiencing distress and are unable to live safely with their biological
families. Foster homes offer children a safe haven, providing much-needed stability, love and care. Additionally, foster families give children the
You have the opportunity to make a difference in these children’s lives, so consider becoming a foster parent today.
chance to experience normalcy, learn, heal and grow. Traditional foster care families can provide positive environments for children for varying lengths of time, ranging from just weeks to months or even years.
If you are looking for more of a short-term flexible commitment, you may be interested in respite foster care. This provides a temporary break to birth and foster parents. While the types of foster care options vary, the goal is always to help children by giving them a safe and caring place to live.
You have the opportunity to make a difference in these children’s lives, so consider becoming a foster parent today.
To learn more, visit www.dakotacounty.us and search foster care.
Exciting changes are happening at Dakota County’s largest park.
We’re adding a yurt and two new outdoor classrooms this year to Lebanon Hills Regional Park. The new features will allow visitors to experience the park in new ways and locations.
Here’s what you can expect:
Yurt for learning
Construction is underway on a yurt that will stand on a deck near the Visitor Center.
Yurts are circular structures wrapped in a soft yet sturdy tent material. They serve as dwellings in some cultures,
but the Lebanon Hills yurt will be a learning space for up to 30 people.
The yurt provides additional learning space for when programs at the popular Visitor Center are full. The yurt’s interior will have outlets, be lit with a skylight and interior lights, and have heating and cooling for more comfortable use all year.
The yurt’s addition will free up other warming spaces during winter months and provide indoor space for school nature programs.
The yurt will sit on a deck platform with stairs and a ramp to make it accessible for all visitors.
community input for how the park system will look in 2050. The process will help develop plans for visitor services, land protection and natural resources.
A vision for 2050
Dakota County Parks has its eyes on the future.
Over the past several months, we’ve been gathering information and
A similar process undertaken in 2008 mapped out the vision for 2030. This drove the addition of Whitetail Woods Regional Park and the continued expansion of our greenway system, which now numbers six different routes and nearly 50 miles — with 16 more miles being constructed.
And while we consider expansion possibilities, the greater focus is
Outdoor classrooms
We’re wrapping construction on two more outdoor classrooms near Schulze and McDonough lakes for programs to gather as students arrive to explore the outdoors.
Similar to the outdoor classroom unveiled in 2018, these additions will have wooden bench seating for groups of 20, with ample space for students to rest and comfortably learn.
The new classrooms provide additional learning spaces for student groups — especially when schools arrive with up to five classes at a time.
Once complete, our outdoor classrooms will showcase three separate areas — the woods, the prairie and a lake.
on how changes in demographics, climate and outdoor-space usage will shape how the parks will be used over the next 25 years. We’re taking a well-rounded analysis by considering things like research that points to connections between improved mental health and naturebased experiences.
We’re also looking at different ways the parks system could grow.
Discussion topics include new parks and greenways, consistent funding, enhancing connections with
Trails of the future
We’re in the early stages of looking at how Lebanon Hills Regional Park’s trails are suited for the future.
A 2023 study considered:
• Recreation on high-quality trails
• Limiting impacts on natural resources and culturally important sites
• When trail uses conflict with one another
• Safety and accessibility
• Reducing trail erosion
• How to improve sustainable trail upkeep
The study outlined the park’s trails and what changes are recommended. It also mapped out best practices and proposed a plan. We’re reviewing the recommendations as we move into the next phase of the project.
Growing greenways
Dakota County’s greenway system continues expanding. Five new sections of paved trails will be completed by the end of 2024. One unlocks the connection between St. Paul and Hastings. Another will honor Dakota County’s military veterans. Look for these projects to be completed this fall:
Mississippi River Greenway: Completion of a 2.1–mile gap in Rosemount. Once complete, greenway users will be able to follow an uninterrupted, 27-mile route from St. Paul to Hastings. Follow Dakota County’s Facebook account for details on a grand-opening event.
Veterans Memorial Greenway: Completion of Phase 1 — a 2-mile stretch in Inver Grove Heights. Features of this section include a sandbag facade-themed underpass
and two unique interpretive memorials honoring veterans and military service. Work on the second leg of this 5-mile greenway will begin in 2025.
North Creek Greenway (Apple Valley): A ribboncutting event this fall will celebrate completion of a 1.3-mile section. Added features include a bridge and the closure of two gaps in the route.
Vermillion River Greenway: Completion of a 3.5-mile stretch that will link up with the Mississippi River Greenway at Hastings’ Levee Park.
North Creek Greenway (Lakeville/Farmington): Completion of a 2.1-mile-long section that includes bridges crossing North Creek and wetlands.
community members and climatechange impacts on natural resource management.
The public input process remains open.
Visit www.dakotacounty.us/parks, search vision, to share your ideas. Also, look for our table at upcoming parks events.
A draft version of the plan should be complete this winter. The Dakota County Board will consider adopting the plan in 2025.
Program registration for fall and winter opens at 9 a.m. Sept. 1 PROGRAMS & EVENTS
YOUTH
KNEE-HIGH NATURALISTS
Discover nature with a child through hands-on activities, outdoor exploration, art projects, story time and more.
Age: 3–6
Fee: $8/youth
Visitor Center
Lebanon Hills Regional Park
Nature’s Produce
Fall is harvest time. Discover what nature has produced that feeds our birds and animals over the long winter months.
Activity Number: 212001-01
• Thur, Oct. 3, 10–11:30 a.m.
Activity Number: 212001-02
• Sat, Oct. 5, 10–11:30 a.m.
Fantastic Foxes
Have fun learning about fox families and why these agile and smart animals are good neighbors.
Activity Number: 212001-03
• Thur, Nov. 7, 10–11:30 a.m.
Activity Number: 212001-04
• Sat, Nov. 9, 10–11:30 a.m.
Birds in Winter
Not all of Minnesota’s birds travel south. Take a walk in the park to explore birds that stay for the winter.
Activity Number: 212001-05
• Thur, Dec. 5, 10–11:30 a.m.
Activity Number: 212001-06
• Sat, Dec. 7, 10–11:30 a.m.
Water in Winter
Plunge into winter and learn how animals have adapted to life in our snow-covered landscape.
Activity Number: 212001-07
• Thur, Jan. 2, 10–11:30 a.m.
Activity Number: 212001-08
• Sat, Jan. 4, 10–11:30 a.m.
Below the Snow
Explore the subnivean space between snow and the ground where a community of animals thrive.
Activity Number: 212001-09
• Thur, Feb. 6, 10–11:30 a.m.
Activity Number: 212001-10
• Sat, Feb. 8, 10–11:30 a.m.
Clever Coyotes
Hike through coyote territory and learn how these smart animals work together to provide for their families.
Activity Number: 212001-11
• Thur, March 6, 10–11:30 a.m.
Activity Number: 212001-12
• Sat, March 8, 10–11:30 a.m.
HOMESCHOOL LAB
Use the park as your lab for hands-on study and scientific inquiry and experimentation.
Age: 6–12
Fee: $8/youth
Visitor Center
Lebanon Hills Regional Park
Science of Spiders
Delve into the world of spiders and discover the important role they play in our ecosystems.
Get to know the largest predator in the park and how to get along with urban wildlife.
Activity Number: 211501-04
• Wed, Nov. 6, 9–11 a.m.
Activity Number: 211501-05
• Wed, Nov. 6, 1–3 p.m.
Activity Number: 211501-06
• Thur, Nov. 7, 1–3 p.m.
Biology of Conifers
Meet the trees that keep their leaves as we investigate the park’s conifers.
Activity Number: 211501-07
• Wed, Dec. 4, 9–11 a.m.
Activity Number: 211501-08
• Wed, Dec. 4, 1–3 p.m.
Activity Number: 211501-09
• Thur, Dec. 5, 1–3 p.m.
Snow Snakes
Try your hand at this traditional Indigenous winter game and see how far your snake can go.
Activity Number: 211501-10
• Wed, Jan. 8, 9–11 a.m.
Activity Number: 211501-11
• Wed, Jan. 8, 1–3 p.m.
Activity Number: 211501-12
• Thur, Jan. 9, 1–3 p.m.
Snowshoes and Tracks
Explore the trails on snowshoes and discover what animals have been out and about.
Activity Number: 211501-13
• Wed, Feb. 5, 9–11 a.m.
Activity Number: 211501-14
• Wed, Feb. 5, 1–3 p.m.
Activity Number: 211501-15
• Thur, Feb. 6, 1–3 p.m.
Maple Syruping
Learn some syrup history and the skills to identify maples and tap your own tree.
Activity Number: 211501-16
• Wed, March 5, 9–11 a.m.
Activity Number: 211501-17
• Wed, March 5, 1–3 p.m.
Activity Number: 211501-18
• Thur, March 6, 1–3 p.m.
DAY CAMPS
Nature Detectives
Use your sleuthing skills to search for clues and uncover who is living in the forest and what they are doing.
Age: 6–8
Fee: $25/youth
Visitor Center
Lebanon Hills Regional Park Activity Number: 210406-01
• Thur, Oct. 17, 9 a.m.–noon
Wilderness Survival
Learn shelter building, fire starting and other bushcraft skills to survive the outdoors.
Age: 8–12
Fee: $65/youth
Visitor Center
Lebanon Hills Regional Park Activity Number: 210406-02
• Fri, Nov. 8, 9 a.m.–3 p.m.
FAMILY
FOREVER WILD FAMILY FRIDAY
Join us for family fun on the first Friday of every month. Learn about a different, exciting topic through hands-on activities, games and nature walks. Stick around for a bonfire and s’mores.
All ages
Free
Whitetail Deer
Discover the world of white-tailed deer and spot their signs in the park.
Empire Shelter
Whitetail Woods Regional Park Activity Number: 211001-01
• Fri, Oct. 4, 6–7:30 p.m.
Raptor Center
Join the Raptor Center for a live presentation about the raptors of Minnesota.
Dakota Lodge
Thompson County Park Activity Number: 211001-02
• Fri, Nov. 1, 6–7:30 p.m.
Celebrate the Sky
Explore the night sky and learn about stars, comets, meteors and more.
Gathering Center
Spring Lake Park Reserve Activity Number: 211001-03
• Fri, Dec. 6, 6–7:30 p.m.
Fun on the Ice
Enjoy an evening of family fun on the ice. Try one of our kicksleds for free.
Visitor Center
Lebanon Hills Regional Park Activity Number: 211001-04
• Fri, Jan. 3, 6–7:30 p.m.
Sledding Party
Suit up for a night of sledding and snow sculpting. Bring your own sled and artful ideas.
Visitor Center
Lebanon Hills Regional Park Activity Number: 211001-05
• Fri, Feb. 7, 6–7:30 p.m.
Bison on the Prairie
Discover the role of bison in the prairie ecosystem.
Gathering Center
Spring Lake Park Reserve Activity Number: 211001-06
• Fri, March 7, 6–7:30 p.m.
WILD ART FOR FAMILIES
Gather with friends and family to create nature-themed arts and crafts.
Fused Glass Critters
Use colorful glass to make your own insects and critters. Eagan Art House will fire your artwork in their kilns. Creations will be ready for pickup two weeks after class.
Age: 6 and older
Fee: $35/person
Visitor Center
Lebanon Hills Regional Park Activity Number: 210205-01
• Sun, Oct. 13, 1–3 p.m.
Drawing Reptiles
Meet four incredible animals and learn to capture their essence with this energetic drawing experience.
Age: 8 and older
Fee: $20/person
Visitor Center
Lebanon Hills Regional Park Activity Number: 210205-02
• Thur, Dec. 5, 6–8 p.m.
Binding a Nature Journal
Sew your own journal or sketchbook out of high-quality drawing paper and decorative covers.
Age: 6 and older
Fee: $35/person
Visitor Center
Lebanon Hills Regional Park Activity Number: 210205-03
• Thur, March 20, 6–8 p.m.
STORY TRAIL
Take a self-guided walk in the park while reading picture book pages displayed along the trail.
All ages
Free Thompson Lake Loop
Thompson County Park Activity Number: 210902-01
• Thur–Sun, Oct. 17–20, 8 a.m.–8 p.m.
CREATURES OF THE NIGHT
Join us for a night hike and learn how animals have adapted to the night and how darkness can play tricks on our senses.
Age: 5 and older
Fee: $5/person
Visitor Center
Lebanon Hills Regional Park Activity Number: 211404-01
• Wed, Oct. 9, 6–8 p.m.
COBWEBS AND CACHES
Use a GPS unit to find hidden jack-o'-lantern caches and collect a prize. Bring your own GPS unit or borrow one of ours. Costumes encouraged.
All Ages
Fee: $8/child; ages 5 and under free Visitor Center
Lebanon Hills Regional Park Activity Number: 211002-01
• Fri, Oct. 18, 5–8 p.m.
NORTHERN SAW-WHET BANDING
Explore the world of one of Minnesota’s littlest owls, the Northern saw-whet owl, in this partnership program with Carpenter Nature Center. Staff from Dakota County Parks and Carpenter will be banding owls and sharing what makes these creatures unique.
All ages
Fee: $12/person
Gathering Center
Spring Lake Park Reserve
Activity Number: 211711-01
• Tue, Oct. 22, 8–9 p.m.
LET’S GO OWLING
Delve into the world of owls and take a hike for a chance to hear and see these nocturnal hunters at work.
Age: 5 and older
Fee: $5/person
Visitor Center
Lebanon Hills Regional Park
Activity Number: 211702-01
• Sat, Dec. 14, 4:30–6:30 p.m.
Activity Number: 211702-02
• Sun, Jan. 5, 4:30–6:30 p.m.
LEARN TO ICE FISH
Join us on Holland Lake to learn the basics of ice fishing, including equipment and technique.
Age: 8 and older
Fee: $10/person
Holland Lake Shelter
Lebanon Hills Regional Park
Activity Number: 211104-01
• Sat, Jan. 25, 1–3 p.m.
Activity Number: 211104-02
• Sat, Feb. 8, 1–3 p.m.
FAMILY SNOWSHOE
Join a park naturalist on a guided snowshoe walk around the park.
Age: 8 and older
Fee: $15/person
Visitor Center
Lebanon Hills Regional Park
Activity Number: 211405-01
• Sat, Jan. 4, 1–3 p.m.
Activity Number: 211405-02
• Sat, Feb. 22, 10 a.m.–noon
PARENT CHILD
CROSS-COUNTRY SKI LESSONS
Learn the basic skills of classicstyle cross-country skiing in a family-friendly environment.
Experience maple syrup season up close by learning syrup history and the skills to identify maples and tap your own tree. Drop in anytime to explore the stations. Registration not required.
All ages
Free
East Shelter
Spring Lake Park Reserve
Activity Number: 211712-01
• Sun, March 23, 1–4 p.m.
ADULT
BEGINNER ARCHERY
Learn about archery basics, equipment and safety, and hone your new skills with target practice.
Age: 16 and older
Fee: $15/person
Archery Shelter Spring Lake Park Reserve Activity Number: 210102-01
Qigong is a system of movements and meditations designed to cultivate intention, awareness and balance. Move through a sequence to support soft strength and a feeling of harmony with nature.
Age: 16 and older
Fee: $30/person
Camp Sacajwea Retreat Center
Lebanon Hills Regional Park Activity Number: 211203-01
Immerse yourself in nature while learning the principles of forest bathing. Learn how to slow down and use your senses to reconnect with nature in a peaceful guided hike.
Age: 16 and older
Fee: $30/person
Camp Sacajwea Retreat Center
Lebanon Hills Regional Park
Activity Number: 211402-01
• Tue, Oct. 15, 1–3:30 p.m. NEW!
PROGRAMS & EVENTS
WILD ART
Gather with fellow crafters and learn new skills taught by local artists.
Needle Felted Autumn
Landscape
Learn how to paint with wool and create a flat felted landscape capturing autumn beauty.
Age: 16 and older
Fee: $30/person
Visitor Center
Lebanon Hills Regional Park
Activity Number: 210202-01
• Thur, Oct. 24, 6–8 p.m.
Botanical Gel Prints
Make beautiful mutilayered prints using a variety of natural materials. Take prints home and use as cards, gift tags or framed gifts.
Age: 16 and older
Fee: $30/person
Visitor Center
Lebanon Hills Regional Park
Activity Number: 210202-02
• Tue, Nov. 12 6–8 p.m.
Cider and Cedars
Join us to sip on hot apple cider and create festive wreaths of cedar boughs, harvested from the park as part of natural resources restoration efforts.
Age: 16 and older
Fee: $45/person
Visitor Center
Lebanon Hills Regional Park
Activity Number: 210204-01
• Wed, Dec. 11, 6:30–8:30 p.m.
Activity Number: 210204-02
• Thur, Dec. 12, 1–3 p.m.
Intro to Drop Spindle Spinning
Learn how to spin your own yarn. Learn blending, drafting and spinning techniques while using wool roving and other assorted plant and animal fibers.
Age: 16 and older
Fee: $25/person
Camp Sacajawea Retreat Center
Lebanon Hills Regional Park
Activity Number: 210202-03
• Thur, Jan. 16, 6–8 p.m.
SUPPORT YOUR PARKS
Dakota County Parks offers a variety of volunteer opportunities for groups and individuals. If you have a passion for nature and the outdoors, volunteer in a county park or greenway near you.
www.dakotacounty.us/parks, search volunteer
CROSS-COUNTRY SKI LESSONS
Learn about equipment, trails and technique in this introduction to classic-style cross-country skiing.
Join a park naturalist on a gentle guided snowshoe hike.
Age: 16 and older
Fee: $15/person
Dakota Lodge
Thompson County Park
Activity Number: 211401-01
• Thur, Jan. 16, 2–4 p.m.
Miesville Trailhead
Miesville Ravine Park Reserve
Activity Number: 211401-02
• Thur, Feb. 13, 2–4 p.m.
Empire Shelter
Whitetail Woods Regional Park
Activity Number: 211401-02
• Thur, March 13, 2–4 p.m.
EVENTS
OUTDOOR GEAR SWAP
Outdoor Gear Swaps are the perfect way to get rid of items that are no longer of use to you and give them another life. Bring items to leave and take items that are new to you. Donations to the swap are not required to bring items home with you.
All ages
Free
Dakota Lodge
Thompson County Park
Activity Number: 212401-01
• Wed, Sept. 11, 4–7 p.m.
WILD RIDE MOUNTAIN BIKE FESTIVAL
POSTPONED
This family-friendly festival includes bikes to demonstrate, build-your-skills sessions, gear talks, fix-it clinics, bike games, group rides, timed competitive events, kids’ activities and great food and beer.
Enjoy the outdoors on Black Friday, Nov. 29 and join us for an openhouse style, free family event with an activity trail, geocaching and a medallion hunt. All event materials, including medallion hunt clues, will be available in English and Spanish.
All ages
Free
Dakota Lodge
Thompson County Park
Activity Number: 210804-01
• Fri, Nov. 29, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
NEW YEAR’S EVE PARTY
Ring in the new year with candlelight ice skating, hiking and snowshoeing — conditions permitting. Slide on a lit sledding hill. Enjoy s’mores, cocoa and bonfires. Stay for Lebbie the Yeti’s family friendly New Year’s countdown and ball drop at 7:59 p.m. Bring your own sleds and ice skates. Dogs not permitted.
All ages
Fee: $8/person; youth ages 5 and under free. Tickets on sale Dec. 1. Visitor Center
Lebanon Hills Regional park Activity Number: 210802-01
• Tue, Dec. 31; 5–8 p.m.
TRAILS BY CANDLELIGHT
Enjoy parks by flickering candlelight. A variety of crosscountry ski, snowshoe, hiking and walking trailswill be lit with hundreds of candles. Warm up with hot cocoa and crackling bonfires. Hot cocoa provided.
All ages
Fee: $8/person; youth ages 5 and under free. Tickets on sale Dec. 1.
Dakota Lodge
Thompson County Park Activity Number: 210803-01
• Fri, Jan. 24, 6–9 p.m.
Gathering Center
Spring Lake Park Reserve Activity Number: 210803-02
• Fri, Feb. 7, 6–9 p.m.
Pick up a detailed Parks and Greenways Guide at any park facility.
INFORMATION
REGISTRATION PAYMENT
Payment is due at registration. All major credit cards are accepted.
IF WE NEED TO CANCEL Cancellations posted at www.dakotacounty.us/parks.
IF YOU NEED TO CANCEL
Refund policy is posted at www.dakotacounty.us/parks, click Programs & Events.
SCHOLARSHIPS Call 952-891-7000.
ACCESSIBILITY
At least three weeks before the program, tell us what accommodation would make the program accessible to you or your family.
EQUIPMENT
Provided unless specified.
EQUIPMENT
RENTAL
Rent cross-country ski equipment, snowshoes and kicksleds at the Lebanon Hills Visitor Center.
Rent a camper cabin at Whitetail Woods Regional Park.
Make a reservation at www.dakotacounty.us/parks search camper cabins.
Recycling made easy
Reducing landfill waste made simpler
Dakota County residents can feel confident that recycling works and is worth it. Items like cardboard, paper, bottles and cans can all be placed in your home recycling cart, so they can be turned into new products rather than be thrown away.
Go Green
Recycling represents about 55 percent of municipal solid waste generated in the county. In 2023, that included more than 75,000 tons of paper, 14,000 tons of glass and 4,800 tons of plastic.
All haulers servicing Dakota County are required to accept a basic list of recyclables from their customers. This makes recycling consistent and easy for you. It is important to recycle right because it is illegal for haulers to take items in your recycling cart to a landfill or incinerator.
Recycling doesn’t stop at the curb. Once picked up, these materials go to a local sorting facility where they are sorted by people and machines. They are brought to various places to be turned into new products:
• Paper and cardboard: Paper mills, including one in St. Paul, mix paper and water to make a pulp. It is then flattened, dried and rolled into new boxboard. The boxboard is used to make cereal and cracker boxes.
• Cartons: Milk and juice cartons are sent across the border to Wisconsin to make material for new paper products.
• Metal cans: Recycled cans are made into new products like wire, beams and parts for cars and appliances. These are transported to foundries and steel mills throughout the Midwest.
• Glass bottles and jars: Clear glass is sent in-state to make new food and beverage bottles. Colored bottles and jars are sorted at a Twin Cities company. They supply recycled glass to product manufacturers across the country.
• Plastic bottles, containers and jugs: Plastics are sorted, shredded and melted into pellets and sold to make a variety of goods. Milk jugs and detergent bottles are turned into decking, fencing and landscaping products in Minnesota. Plastics like drink bottles and produce containers get made into new bottles throughout the Midwest.
Follow these easy rules to ensure your recycling gets recycled:
• Do not use plastic bags. Place recyclables loose in your recycling cart or in a paper bag.
• Empty and dry bottles, jars and containers. They don't have to be perfect — just free of most residue.
• Leave caps on containers.
• Empty and flatten boxes.
Recycle right and place these items in your recycling bins:
Paper
• Newspaper and inserts
• Magazines and catalogs
• Mail and office papers
Cardboard
• Corrugated cardboard
• Paperboard like cracker boxes
Cartons
• Milk and juice cartons
• Soup, broth and wine cartons
Metal cans
• Aluminum, tin and steel cans
Glass bottles and jars
Plastic bottles, containers, jugs
• Containers numbered 1, 2 or 5
• Soda, juice and water bottles
If you’re wondering about a specific item, use the online Recycling Guide at www.dakotacounty.us, search recycling guide.
• Milk and juice jugs
• Margarine, cottage cheese, cream cheese and other tubs and lids
• Laundry detergent bottles and jugs
• Clear berry and produce containers
Water checkup: Testing private wells
Groundwater accounts for more than 90 percent of Dakota County’s drinking water supply.
Water is supplied by city wells and more than 8,000 private wells located throughout the county. Private wells are more vulnerable to groundwater contamination because they are
typically much shallower than city wells. Chemicals that are applied in areas with sandy soil or shallow bedrock can more easily contaminate private wells.
Most county residents get their water from their city water systems, which are regulated and frequently tested.
RECYCLING IS REAL,
and it works in Dakota County.
Recycled materials in 2023:
Paper & cardboard 75,150 tons
Glass 14,372 tons
Plastic 4,835 tons
Metal 4,517 tons
Go Green
Helping you clean and declutter
Getting rid of unwanted household items can seem daunting, especially when you don’t know what to do with mattresses, microwaves and furniture. Getting rid of those things and more than 400 other household items doesn’t have to be a chore. Our online Recycling Guide can help take the stress out of decluttering.
The Recycling Guide allows people to search for items and learn how to dispose of them properly. Each search tells you if items can go in your home recycling cart or trash. You’ll also get information on donation opportunities, drop-off recycling locations and pickup services for larger, bulkier items such as mattresses.
Private well owners are responsible for maintaining their well and testing the water quality. Water testing looks for contaminants that present health or environmental concerns, such as bacteria, nitrate, arsenic, manganese and lead. There are private wells that exceed the drinking water guidelines for each of these contaminants.
The Recycling Guide also showcases local recycling events happening in your area, like document shredding events. With such a convenient resource at your fingertips, getting rid of your unwanted stuff in an environmentally friendly way has never been easier.
To view the Recycling Guide, visit www.dakotacounty.us and search Recycling Guide, or scan the QR code:
Individual well test results, as well as community results maps, are available at www.dakotacounty.us, search wells
Water test kits can be purchased from Dakota County. A state-certified lab tests the samples and provides results to private well owners.
To purchase a water test kit, visit www.dakotacounty.us, search water test.
To learn more about water quality testing and technology to treat or remove contaminants, visit www.dakotacounty.us, search drinking water.
The many ways county government works for
Serving
you
Counties are sometimes called the “hidden layer of government.” But if you look around the community, we’re often hiding in plain sight.
Dakota County government’s role and responsibilities are broad. While some services are more visible to the public, we impact the lives of residents in many ways.
We plow county roads, oversee elections, shelter the homeless, issue passports and provide first responders for public safety. We also maintain parks and greenways and provide access to library materials and spaces. We protect the environment and offer vaccines to keep families healthy — to name a few of the valuable services we provide.
The Dakota County Board of Commissioners makes sure we deliver those services in an efficient and cost-effective way. The county’s seven elected commissioners set a vision and budget for county government. They review how services impact our 447,000 residents and serve as a watchdog for taxpayers.
Dakota County, the third-largest county in Minnesota, has 224 programs and services. We provide some services because residents tell us they help make this a great place to live and work. However, many county services are mandated, or required, by state government. They keep the public safe and provide safety-net services for people in need.
OF THE COUNTY’S 224 PROGRAMS:
144 are required. These include child protection, environmental health, emergency planning and bridge inspections.
44 are not required. They include park activities, 4-H support and volunteer programs.
36 support other county services. They include housing aid, fraud investigations and land surveys.
State and federal funds cover 35 percent of our program costs. We also rely on local property tax dollars and other funds, such as fees for specific services. We’re able to provide all our services while maintaining the lowest tax rate in the metro area this year.
HERE’S A CLOSER LOOK AT SOME OF THE MANY SERVICES YOUR COUNTY GOVERNMENT PROVIDES:
ENSURING PUBLIC SAFETY
RUNNING A JAIL, PROVIDING OTHER SERVICES
One of our main responsibilities is public safety. That’s done through law enforcement, the courts, emergency planning and more.
State law requires sheriffs to house and care for jail inmates, transport inmates and provide district court security. They also must investigate serious recreational vehicle accidents, search for drowning victims, carry out orders of the court and issue permits to carry.
Operating a jail is the largest mandate in the Dakota County Sheriff’s Office. It’s roughly half of the office’s 200 staff and $30 million budget. The jail has 263 beds and about 174 inmates daily. Roughly 60 percent of inmates report living outside Dakota County. About two-thirds of inmates have been in our jail before.
We don’t do the bare minimum in our jail. We offer industry-leading programs, rehabilitation services and specialized health care. These efforts set up inmates for a successful transition back into the community.
This fall, we will open a new 28-bed Integrative Health Unit to provide specialized medical and mental health care to inmates. This innovative new unit is not required, but we want to increase inmates’ likelihood of success while in custody and after release. That will benefit individuals, families and the community.
Residents might assume that the Sheriff’s Office and city police departments are required to patrol our roads and communities. While there isn’t a state law requiring it, we provide that service to protect and connect with the community. Thirty sheriff’s deputies patrol 355 square miles of rural Dakota County.
PROSECUTING CRIMES, OFFERING ALTERNATIVES
A key part of public safety is holding those who commit crimes accountable. That’s a responsibility the Dakota County Attorney’s Office takes seriously.
Counties are required to prosecute all felonies involving adult offenders. Certain counties, including Dakota, also must prosecute some gross misdemeanor offenses. They also need to charge misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor cases that occur in rural areas of the county.
The attorney’s office also is mandated to prosecute all cases involving juveniles who commit crimes in the county.
In 2023, the attorney’s office charged more than 1,800 adult felony cases, including about 430 drug cases. The office reviewed about 3,000 adult cases from local police departments and the Sheriff’s Office for possible charges. Some cases involving lower-level offenses were sent to cities for prosecution.
Continued
Criminal case numbers vary from year to year, but they have remained mostly flat in Dakota County over the past five years. In that time, there has been a decline in the number of juvenile criminal cases. The attorney’s office charged 615 cases last year, including 160 involving felony crimes.
County attorneys are required to offer a diversion program for first-time juvenile offenders. Instead of offering one program, we offer seven, including
PROTECTING CHILDREN FROM HARM
We protect the most vulnerable populations, including youth through child protection programs. We know the importance of this work.
Child protection services start by receiving a report of maltreatment and determining whether more review is needed. We need to make that decision within 24 hours.
In 2023, we screened 5,348 reports of maltreatment. Those calls come from mandated reporters, such as doctors or teachers, anonymous reporters and law enforcement.
If a maltreatment report meets criteria for review, we determine whether staff will conduct a family investigation or a family assessment. Investigations involve severe allegations of child endangerment and sexual abuse, which can result in criminal charges.
Our family assessments involve lower-risk maltreatment reports, such as lack of supervision or less-severe physical abuse. After an assessment, we may recommend that the family receive help from a social worker to ensure the child’s safety.
the only drug treatment court in the state.
We’re required to offer a diversion program for first-time adult offenders, but we offer two. One addresses low-level property offenses, the other low-level drug crimes. We also have a diversion program for repeat, low-level drug offenders.
Some adult offenders may also avoid a conviction by participating in our drug treatment court or veterans treatment court.
KEEPING THE ENVIRONMENT HEALTHY
MAKING RECYCLING AS EASY AS POSSIBLE
In Dakota County, residents, businesses, schools and local governments are required to recycle. That helps to reduce waste going to landfills. The county works to provide residents with convenient ways to recycle at government buildings and spaces — parks, city halls, community centers, athletic fields and more.
We work with cities to develop a recycling program. This includes ensuring a labeled recycling container is available next to each trash container in public areas. There are currently more than 340 municipal buildings and parks in Dakota County where recycling is available.
We provide grants to cities, townships, schools and businesses to improve recycling and help meet requirements. Funding for recycling grants comes from the state and host fees from landfills in Dakota County.
Our work to provide public access to recycling helps meet the state’s goal to recycle 75 percent of waste by 2030. In 2023, our recycling rate was 55 percent. The more we can all recycle, the less we rely on landfills. That’s better for the environment, and it makes financial sense to recycle materials into new products instead of burying them. The state estimates nearly a million tons of material was thrown away in 2021 that could have been recycled.
Making recycling easy and ensuring everything that can be recycled gets recycled is important. When you’re out and about in Dakota County, we want recycling to be available to you.
REGULATING HAZARDOUS WASTE
Counties play a large role in keeping our air, water and land healthy.
For 40 years, Dakota County and other area counties have been required to regulate hazardous waste generators, including businesses and governments. We issue licenses, inspect facilities and report violations. We work with the property managers because the goal is to follow the rules and maintain safe operations.
There are more than 1,100 hazardous waste generators that need a license in the county. They range from a large oil refinery to dental offices and auto repair shops. In one year, they generated 300 million gallons of hazardous waste, such as flammable liquids and toxic chemicals.
The county inspects about 500 locations each year. We check for proper waste handling, employee training and emergency planning.
KEEPING THE ENVIRONMENT HEALTHY
PROTECTING GROUNDWATER
We provide some services because it’s good for the environment and public health, even if it’s not required. That includes inspecting new wells and ensuring that unused wells are properly sealed.
Dakota County is one of 10 local governments in Minnesota with state authority to permit and inspect wells. We handle residential, business and agricultural irrigation wells. We don’t regulate city or community wells.
There are more than 8,000 active residential wells in Dakota County. Another 800 wells are used for environmental monitoring or owned by government agencies and others.
SERVING IN OTHER WAYS
OFFERING BENEFITS FOR THOSE IN NEED
When families hit a rough spot financially and struggle to afford food or a place to live, they might need help to make ends meet. Counties fill that need by administering economic assistance funds.
The benefits we provide vary based on income, family size, work situation and more. We administer SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits, which families and single adults use to buy food. We also offer the Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP), which provides funds for families to cover basic needs and helps parents to get or maintain work.
In Dakota County, an average of about 10,000 households received SNAP benefits last year. We also served a monthly average of nearly 1,100 households through MFIP.
Inspecting wells is important to protect groundwater. Poor well construction or improper well sealing can affect the underground aquifers that provide our drinking water.
Between 80–100 new wells are built each year in Dakota County. On average, 120–180 old wells are sealed annually. State law requires proper sealing of unused wells, so we offer a program to reduce the cost to well owners.
The county pays for the well program through permit fees, not property taxes.
These programs are state-supervised and county-administered. County tax dollars aren’t used to provide public benefits.
SERVING IN OTHER WAYS
PROVIDING LICENSES AND CERTIFICATES
Counties are responsible for providing important documents for life’s most important moments — birth certificates, marriage licenses, death certificates and more. These are available at our service and license centers.
We provide birth and death certificates, and we make the process convenient by offering them at five locations — Administration Center, Northern Service Center and the Burnsville, Lakeville and Robert Trail license centers. We issued more than 10,600 birth and death certificates last year.
Getting married or officiating a marriage requires county filings. Marriage licenses and certificates are available at all three service centers and by mail.
About 6,000 people requested help with a marriage license or certificate at our service centers last year. Residents can also request a marriage certificate by mail.
We provide a convenient way to get driver’s licenses and passports. It’s not a mandated service, but we know it's popular. We issued about 49,500 driver's licenses last year.
Passports are available at the Administration Center in Hastings and the Western Service Center. Last year alone, we processed 13,100 passports. It’s more convenient to get your passport from the county than through a state office.
We also help people become a notary — someone commissioned by the state to witness document signings for legal, real estate and other purposes.
Our service centers processed 2,685 notary commissions in 2023.
We want your experience at a county service or license center to be positive. Our service software tracks results from customers. More than 10,000 people provided feedback last year, giving us an average rating of 4.6 out of 5. We’ll keep working to make the license and permit process efficient and convenient.
MAINTAINING THE FLEET
Some of our work happens behind the scenes, including fleet management. We buy, repair and maintain the vehicles and other equipment that support county services. That ranges from Sheriff’s Office squad cars to snowplows and even the equipment that keeps our parks accessible for visitors.
Our fleet team this year was named the best department among its peers in the country. It maintains more than 800 vehicles and pieces of equipment for Dakota County. Most of the equipment is used to provide required services. The county vehicle fleet travels a total of 2.7 million miles a year, almost all within the county.
HELPING PEOPLE GET WORK
Providing benefits to help people live during a difficult time is important, but we also want to help adults find work, so they can be successful and financially independent. Most parents receiving the Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP) benefits are required to participate in workforce programs, which could include job searches or help learning job skills.
In 2023, we served more than 1,500 individuals through workforce programs. Employment counselors
Our fleet team also supports other services that aren’t required but are popular with residents. That includes Mighty Machines, the fun event at libraries and other locations where kids and adults alike can get up close with large vehicles like plow trucks and construction equipment. Those events draw hundreds of people and help show what services we provide to residents.
help identify an individual’s job skills and work interests. We provide workshops on how to write a resume, prepare for an interview and more. Our goal is to help people get a job with a wage that makes them self-sufficient. Last year, the average wage for someone who got a job after going through our MFIP workforce programs was nearly $21 an hour. The result for the program we have to serve people who’ve lost jobs for no fault of their own is more than $35 an hour.
Your Commissioners
Mike Slavik District 1 T: 651-438-4427 Joe Atkins District 2 T: 651-438-4430
Liz Workman District 5 T: 651-438-4431
Contact us
Mary Liz Holberg District 6 T: 651-438-4243
Email: board@co.dakota.mn.us
Heidi Welsch hired as county manager
The Dakota County Board of Commissioners has hired Heidi Welsch as county manager.
Welsch will manage an organization of more than 2,000 employees who provide 224 services and programs to county residents, clients, businesses and visitors. Dakota County, with a population of 447,000, is the third-largest county in Minnesota.
Welsch, the first woman to serve in the county’s top role, begins work Sept. 3.
The county manager oversees the implementation of policy decisions by the county board. The manager also makes
Laurie Halverson District 3 T: 651-438-4429
Mary HamannRoland District 7 T: 651-438-4411
Droste District 4 T: 651-438-4428
budget recommendations and is responsible for day-to-day county operations.
Welsch previously served as administrator in Olmsted County, Minnesota for seven years. She also worked as Olmsted County’s deputy administrator and director of Family Support and Assistance.
Prior to working in Olmsted County, she served as Dakota County’s manager of the Office of Planning and Analysis and as deputy director of Employment and Economic Assistance.
“I’m grateful and excited for this opportunity to return to Dakota County,” Welsch said. “I look forward to leading the great team of employees serving the residents and communities of Dakota County.”
